King and Royal family watch VE Day flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony

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05-05-2025

The King and the Royal family watched Second World War airplanes and the Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace to mark VE Day.
The King and Queen were joined on the balcony by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children for the overhead display.
Prince George and Prince Louis leaned to get the best look at the aircraft alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, her husband Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke of Kent, cousin of Elizabeth II.
The flypast involved wartime Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft and the Red Arrows and was followed by the national anthem, with jubilant crowds shouting, 'God save the King'.
The display followed a military parade down the Mall to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Contingents from the Commonwealth, Nato countries and Ukraine joined the march, which was saluted by the King.
The Royal family were seated with veterans in the royal dais and were seen engaging them in conversation.
The King even 'tucked' in Joy Trew, who served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, with a blanket to keep her warm in the unseasonably cool temperatures.
The King and Queen later hosted a tea party for veterans and members of the Second World War generation.
Prince George spoke to veterans about their service, and was said to have been 'very interested' in them.
The Queen was even treated to a magic trick as Norman Trickett, 101, tied a piece of string on her finger before whipping it off.
Thank you for following The Telegraph's live coverage of the VE Day commemorations.
Thousands gathered in central London for the celebrations
The Armed Forces paraded down the Mall, along with contingents from Nato and Ukraine
The Royal family watched on and the King saluted, before helping to 'tuck in' veteran Joy Trew with a blanket
Prince Louis clutched a hot water bottle and was caught on camera imitating Prince George doing his hair
The Royals then watched from the Buckingham Palace balcony as historic aircraft and the Red Arrows flew overhead
Veterans were treated to a tea party inside the Palace as they mingled with the Royals
Sir Keir Starmer also hosted a street party on Downing Street
The Royal family and members of the Second World War generation were treated to an impressive array of sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones and cakes as they swapped stories at a Buckingham Palace tea party, writes Deputy Royal Editor Victoria Ward.
The menu consisted of assorted sandwiches, potted shrimp, egg and bacon quiche and vegetable pasties.
Guests also tucked into homemade scotch eggs and sausage rolls before plates of scones with jam and cream were laid out by staff.
The spread included lemon and carrot cake, chocolate cake and treacle tart as well as strawberries and cream.
A veteran who became cold during the VE Day military procession said the King 'tucked' her in with a blanket.
Joy Trew, who signed up to join the war effort aged 17 and served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, said the King had leaned down and tucked her blanket into her wheelchair during the parade to prevent her from getting chilly.
'He bent down and tucked me in,' she said.
Charles was earlier seen tightening a navy blue blanket over Mrs Trew's shoulders and adjusting a grey blanket over her lap.
The Prince of Wales told 101-year-old Alfred Littlefield that his son Prince George is 'interested' in learning about veterans, his granddaughter said.
Samantha Davidson, 58, from Denmead, Hampshire, said: 'The Prince said George is very interested in finding out about the veterans.
'George even asked my grandfather how old he was during his service.'
She said Mr Littlefield was very happy that George has taken an interest in the past.
Mr Littlefield said: 'I'm very proud.'
Guests have started to arrive for a VE Day street party hosted by the Prime Minister at Downing Street.
Two long tables lined with red and gold chairs on the street were decorated with flowers, miniature Union flags and table mats.
Each seat was given a commemorative plate and mug with the words VE Day 80 written on them, while food served on the tables included Victoria sponge cake, scotch eggs and pork pies.
Among the guests were Second World War veterans Ruth Brook Klauber and Colin Deverell, both aged 101.
Bunting was hanging over the tables and draped over the ground floor windows of No 10.
Musicians from the Grenadier Guards military band played songs to the guests as they received drinks on arrival.
Veteran Norman Trickett, 101, said he performed a magic trick with the Queen while talking to her.
The trick involved tying string on Camilla's finger before whipping it off. She laughed as the trick was performed.
Mr Trickett said: 'I was dared to show the magic trick to the Queen, so I did it. She loved it, so I'm glad, I'm chuffed to be here, very proud.'
The Prince of Wales spoke of the importance of preserving veterans' stories as he was joined by his son and former servicemen at a tea party in Buckingham Palace.
William smiled as he shook hands with veterans and said it was 'very important' for Prince George and the 'next generation' to hear the stories from those who fought in the war.
George listened intently as his father chatted to Alfred Littlefield, 101, who served during D-Day.
William later told veteran Douglas Hyde, who joined the merchant navy aged 18 in 1944, that his son was 'very keen' to ask the former serviceman some questions.
The pair joined the party as veterans and senior politicians enjoyed a selection of finger sandwiches, soup and homemade scotch eggs in the Marble Hall.
Prince George has joined his mother and father the Prince and Princess of Wales to meet veterans at Buckingham Palace.
He was seen alongside William chatting with 101-year-old Alfred Littlefield.
Meanwhile, Kate was seated alongside veteran Joe Mines.
It's a rainy walk back for spectators as the heavens broke shortly after the Royal family headed inside, reports Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Several Union Jack umbrellas have been opened as the vast crowds slowly snake their way back down the Mall.
Prince Louis was caught on camera imitating Prince George, who had ran his hands through his hair.
The young prince, seven, was later filmed rolling his eyes at his older brother, 11.
As the King stepped onto the Buckingham Palace balcony, a cheer went up from the crowd below, writes Royal Editor Hannah Furness.
Joined by Queen Camilla, followed by the small Wales children, their parents, and the wider working royal family behind them, the Royal family assembled for the flypast.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis gazed skywards, with their mother giving a smiling running commentary of what was going on below and overhead.
The Duke of Kent, 89, and the only member of the Royal family who has his own memories of the Second World War, stood behind the King with the encouragement of the Princess Royal, who gestured to a pillar as if to suggest he may wish to lean on it if needed.
Prince Louis tapped the red balcony drapes in time to the military music, while an animated Prince George pointed aircraft out to his father.
As the National Anthem rang out, George reminded his younger brother to face forward, all three children doing so impeccably.
With a final wave, and cheered from the crowd around the Queen Victoria Memorial below, the family returned to the palace.
The Princess of Wales put one hand on the back of Charlotte and the other on Louis as they walked inside.
In 1945, the Royal family made eight separate appearances on the balcony to celebrate the end of war.
Today there will be just one, before the spotlight returns to those few surviving veterans whose stories the world needs to hear.
A Lancaster bomber from the Second World War led the flypast.
The Red Arrows later followed, emitting red, white and blue smoke as they flew in formation over Buckingham Palace.
A military band then played the national anthem as the crowd cheered, 'God save the King'.
The King and the Royal family have gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as they watched a VE Day flypast.
Charles and Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Also on the balcony were Princess Anne, her husband Sir Timothy Lawrence and the Duke of Kent, cousin of the late Queen.
The flypast involved historic Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft and the Red Arrows.
A rush of spectators are now marching down the mall to get as close as possible to Buckingham Palace ahead of the fly past, writes Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Security personnel lifted cordons, prompting a swarm of people eager to get as close as possible to the balcony for a view of the royals.
As a nine-year-old, Rita says she can still remember thinking 'no more bombs', as she celebrated VE Day with her neighbours, reports Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Now 89, the mother-of-two came to the Mall with her son.
As a child, she remembered seeing school children shot at my German soldiers and her own family home in Dulwich, south east London, being bombed.
Waiting in her wheelchair for the procession, she told The Telegraph: 'I just remember thinking, 'no more bombs'.
'We had a street party with our neighbours on the day. The children had jellies and everyone contributed by cooking something.'We all partied in the street and celebrated.'
The pensioner, who now lives near Heathrow, said: 'It's so important we keep remembering that they [the soldiers] died for our freedom.'
At 91, Beryl Smith can still remember how excited she was to eat jam sandwiches and jelly at a VE street party, writes Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Aged 11 when the war came to an end, she and her fellow pupils were called into the assembly hall for their school headmaster to inform them of the news.
Before then, Mrs Smith remembers having to hurry into bomb shelters in the middle of the night and finding their Brentford family home had lost all its doors and windows in an air raid attack.
Mrs Smith, who now lives in Isleworth, said: 'When we found out at school, we were all just shouting. The war had been a frightening time, but as children, we didn't fully understand.'
Her late brother Thomas James was a signalman in the navy at the time – and was not able to rerun until sometimes later.
Remembering the local street party her and her family attended, Mrs Smith said: 'As kids we were all just running around - going mental – and we were so excited because we got to eat jelly and jam sandwiches. It was the adults who were dancing and singing in the street.'
The King helped to wrap veteran Joy Trew up in blankets as the pair sat next to each other on the Queen Victoria Memorial watching the VE Day military procession.
Charles tightened a navy blue blanket over Ms Trew's shoulders and adjusted a grey blanket over her lap.
Prince Louis also clutched fluffy hot water bottle to keep warm in unseasonably cool temperatures of just 10C.
The parade has now concluded and will be followed at 1.45pm by a Red Arrows display.
The Royal family are making their way to Buckingham Palace, where they will gather on the balcony to watch the flypast.
The Queen was seated next to Jack Mortimer, who was wrapped up against the chill in a navy blanket, reports Deputy Royal Editor Victoria Ward.
Mr Mortimer was just 20 when he landed on the Normandy coast on June 6 1944.
'It was organised chaos; the noise, the smoke,' he has recalled. 'I was frightened to death, hearing guns going off and seeing thousands of ships on either side.'
Mr Mortimer was part of D-Day – Britain's largest ever amphibious invasion. The operation brought together the land, air and sea forces of the Allied nations in one of the most significant turning points of the Second World War.
The Princess Royal sat next to Gilbert Clarke, 98, who was in Jamaica in 1943 when news came that volunteers were wanted for the RAF. He lied about his age and within days, he was kitted out, receiving basic training and being sent on a troop-carrying ship to Britain via the United States.
The journey to Britain was marked by torpedo attacks from German U-boats which hit a number of ships travelling alongside Gilbert's. He finally arrived in Britain in March 1944.
A contingent of Ukrainian soldiers were cheered by the crowds and saluted by the King as they marched past Buckingham Palace.
Applause carried the servicemen down the Mall as the public signalled support for the beleaguered country in the face of Russia's invasion.
The King saluted the Armed Forces as events commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe began.
As thousands lined the streets of central London, Charles and other members of the Royal family watched soldiers, sailors and airmen parade down the Mall to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
Members of the Royal family chatted animatedly with the veterans who sat alongside them on the dais, reports Deputy Royal Editor Victoria Ward.
As the family arrived to take their seats, they shook hands with some of those already seated for the parade.
The Princess of Wales was pictured in deep conversation with Bernard Morgan, 101, who was seated to her right.
The Royal British Legion ambassador and D-Day veteran still has the original telex he received to say the war had ended. He volunteered on his 18th birthday in 1942 and served in the RAF until 1947. Mr Morgan was a codebreaker during the war, and the equipment he used was so sensitive that he couldn't risk it being captured by the enemy. He landed on Gold beach at 6.30pm on D-Day, becoming the youngest RAF sergeant to land in Normandy. Two days before VE Day, he received a telex to say, 'German war now over, surrender effective sometime tomorrow,' but kept it secret.
Seated alongside the King was Joy Trew, 98, who served in the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force). She remembers being fascinated with aviation ever since seeing German aeroplanes dropping bombs over her school playground.
Ms Trew joined the Women's Junior Air Corps and after watching her sisters choosing to work in the factories after being called up, knew that was not for her.
She remembers teenage boys in the air corps eager to fly and join up, and thought 'I can do this', and so enlisted in the WAAF aged 17, and her father wasn't pleased so didn't sign her papers until the night before she had to return them.
Prince Louis ensured his father's uniform was spick and span by brushing it off.
The Prince of Wales had taken his seat for the parade, shaking the hand of a veteran as he arrived.
His children followed his example with Kate the last to greet the serviceman, Bernard Morgan, as she sat beside him.
He later showed her a selection of photographs and she took one to take a closer look.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were last seen together in public when they attended the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham Estate.
Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, who was in the Royal Air Force (RAF) with the Mustang Squadron and was in Celle near Belsen on VE Day, formally started the VE Day procession in central London on Monday.
Garrison Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One Andrew Stokes, of the Coldstream Guards, asked Mr Kennett, who was sat on a chair in Parliament Square flanked by cadets, for permission to march.
He said: 'Thank you and your generation for securing our freedom 80 years ago. May I have your permission to start the parade please?'
'Carry on,' Mr Kennett replied.
Mr Kennett had earlier been presented with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Torch of Peace by one of the cadets.
In a nod to his own family history, the King is today wearing the Naval No.1 Dress ceremonial uniform, with no medals or decorations, just as his grandfather, George VI, did when he appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony on VE Day, 1945, writes Deputy Royal Editor Victoria Ward.
On Tuesday May 8, 1945, George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret made the first of several balcony appearances at 3.11pm, immediately after the Prime Minister's speech, much to the delight of the huge crowds on the Mall who had been chanting 'We Want The King'. The monarch was wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet.
The Queen is wearing a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, her late father's regiment and the military unit she serves as Colonel in Chief.
Major Bruce Shand served with the 12th Lancers during the Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross in 1940, during the retreat to Dunkirk, and again in 1942 for his efforts in North Africa, and was later wounded and taken prisoner while fighting in the same region. He died in June 2006 aged 89.
Meanwhile, the Princess Royal is wearing the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry with no decorations. Formed in 1901, the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is an independent, all-female charity that was active in both nursing and intelligence work during the World Wars. Princess Anne has been commandant-in-chief of the corps since 1981.
The uniform is largely the same as the khaki uniform of the Auxiliary Territorial Services (ATS) worn by the late Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, during her Buckingham Palace balcony appearance on VE Day 1945.
The 19-year-old Princess had joined the ATS earlier that year. She was the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member.
The Prince of Wales, who earned his wings at RAF Cranwell in 2008, is wearing RAF No.1 Uniform. He served for three years as a search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh, colonel of the Scots Guards, is wearing the Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards.
The Duke of Kent, who at 89, has spoken of his memories of the war, is wearing Field Marshal No.2 Service Dress.
As Big Ben strikes midday, the commemorations have begun in Westminster.
Actor Timothy Spall read part of Winston Churchill's VE Day broadcast on May 8 1945.
He recited: 'When shall the reputation and faith of this generation of men and women fail? I say that in the long years to come not only will the people of this island, but of the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to what we have done and they will say: 'Do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straightforward and die if need be unconquered'.'
Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, then signalled the start of the VE Day parade.
Henry Ducker, who at 104 will be the oldest guest at a Buckingham Palace tea party with the King and Queen later today, said it was a 'huge honour', reports Royal Editor Hannah Furness.
He joined the RAF in 1940 aged 19, and has not told the story of his service until recently.
'It's a huge honour to be invited to Buckingham Palace to mark 80 years since VE Day,' he told The Telegraph. 'I can't believe I'll be the oldest veteran attending at 104 years old, but it'll be a privilege to be surrounded by my fellow veterans at an occasion like this.
'I've never met any of the Royal Family before, so this is very exciting! I'm incredibly grateful to the Royal British Legion for helping to make this happen for us veterans and ensuring that our stories and memories live on with the nation.
'I will be thinking of my brave friends, both men and women, who never came home and made the greatest of sacrifices.'
The Wales children have arrived to honour Second World War veterans during VE Day commemorations, reports Royal Correspondent India McTaggart.
Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, will later join their parents, as well as the King and Queen, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The three children are taking part in Monday's commemorative events by watching the military procession – a parade of 1,300 members of the Armed Forces – and the Royal Air Force flypast.
It is understood they will not be joining the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Buckingham Palace tea party later in the afternoon, where around 50 veterans have been invited into the palace by the King and Queen.
The Armed Forces are mustering on Parliament Square ahead of the parade, which begins at midday.
The band of the Irish Guards is currently leading a group of Ukrainian soldiers who are taking part in the procession.
Husband and wife Paul and Rita Rigler came to the Mall to pay tribute to their fathers, writes Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Mr Rigler's father, Capt Tony Rigler, was working in a German hospital in the Royal Medical Corps when the end of the war in Europe was announced.
Meanwhile Rita's father, who was in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Parachute Battalion, was liberated from Stalag VII-A, a prisoner of war camp, on April 29, 1945.
Mrs Rigler, 73, said: 'My father and the other prisoners only survived by eating sparrows at Stalag. He never talked about what happened and we found out most of the details in notes he had kept after he died.'
Mr Rigler, 72, who lives with his wife in Leamington Spa, said: 'It was important for us to attend today.We will be in our eighties by the time the next big anniversary comes along.'
David Smith, a military royal engineer from 1960 to 1972, travelled from Lincolnshire on Sunday to honour the veterans at the parade.
The 79-year-old said: 'It's about patriotism. It's what we do.'
Mr Smith has marched at the Cenotaph for 26 years and will watch the parade on Monday from The Mall.
His wife Muriel said: 'Where we live in Lincolnshire, the 'bomber county', there is always a bomber base five miles from you. There's still air raid shelters where we live.'
About the parade, the 77-year-old said: 'I just love the songs, the ceremony, everything.'
He kept the horrors of the Second World War to himself for eight decades.
Now, ahead of joining the King and Queen for tea at Buckingham Palace to mark the anniversary of VE Day this week, Henry Ducker, 104, has shared his story for the first time.
The former Royal Air Force (RAF) flight mechanic, who served as a Leading Aircraftman for six years until 1946, said he was 'honoured' to accept the invitation.
Mr Ducker, who was called up to the RAF aged just 19, has never previously met a member of the Royal family and will be the oldest of 30 veterans attending the 80th anniversary celebrations.
The day's events, organised by the Royal British Legion, of which the King is patron, will begin with a military procession and fly-past with the Royal family and the Prime Minister present.
Read the full story from Janet Eastham here.
Sitting in a camping chair beside the Mall, Noelle Marx can't help but think of her grandmother, who came to the same iconic spot on VE Day eighty years ago, reports Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
Ms Marx, 66, said her grandmother was the 'life and soul' of any party and frequently pointed at the TV saying 'I was there', on previous VE days, when cameras turned to the Mall.
Stella Lemmings, then in her forties and living in Southall, was a mother-of-two and a housewife when WWII came to an end.
Ms Marx said: 'She would always tell us she was there at the time. My grandmother would get emotional when talking about the war - obviously a lot of things happened but VE Day was a happy day.
'I can imagine her partying in the street today, she was a real character and the life and soul of any party.'
Richard Chapman's grandfather never lived to see VE Day, writes Senior News Reporter Fiona Parker.
The 26-year-old private, who had the same name as his grandson, was killed in action in Tunisia, while serving with the East Surrey regiment in 1942.
Standing on the Mall this morning, Mr Chapman, from Hertfordshire, who himself was part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) when he was younger, said: 'It's just good to see people still remembering it and I'm really happy to see younger people here today.'
The 55-year-old, who does work with the British Legion, added: 'I'm here to remember my grandfather, but I also think it's really important to ensure we learn from our past mistakes - and hopefully there won't be more wars like that in the future.'
The King and Queen will lead the celebrations in central London.
They are also expected to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children, as well as other members of the Royal family.
Timothy Spall, the actor, will read extracts from the wartime prime minister's VE Day broadcast.
Ukrainian soldiers are among those who will participate in the military parade with members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF).
A Nato detachment will also include personnel from the United States, France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Sweden.
The Ceremonial Lead of The Household Division has said that today's VE Day commemorations, including a military procession and RAF fly-past, will 'send a message that we are stronger together,' writes India McTaggart.
Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes, who designed today's parade and trained the 1,300 members of the Armed Forces participating, said: 'The VVIPS today are those veterans who gave so much 80 years ago and we're here to support them.'
'It's a celebration for the nation, for the commonwealth, for the allies, to get together. We were handed freedom 80 years ago and that was absolutely a team effort,' he told Sky News.
He also explained that his commitment to almost four decades in the Armed Forces was 'inspired' by the generation that served in the Second World War.
'Their legacy lives on, their example and their reputation lives on 80 years later.'
Celebrations in central London begin at midday, when 1,300 soldiers, airmen and sailors will begin marching from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.
At 1.45pm, historic aircraft and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Red Arrows will fly past Buckingham Palace as the Royal family gathers on the balcony.
The King and Queen will later host a tea party in the palace gardens and Sir Keir Starmer is hosting a street party on Downing Street.
HMS Belfast, the Second World War frigate now moored in the Thames, will commemorate the day with a gun salute.
Other street parties and picnics will be held across the country.
Thousands of people will line the streets of London as four days of commemorations to mark the end of the Second World War in Europe are set to begin.
Nato allies will join 1,300 members of the Armed Forces for a procession in the city, and the words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech will be spoken by actor Timothy Spall to kick off events for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
The royal family are scheduled to take part in engagements over the next four days, as they hope 'nothing will detract or distract' from the commemorations following the Duke of Sussex's bombshell interview with the BBC.
The King and Queen are 'looking forward' to the week's events, and it is understood that, out of respect for the surviving veterans, Buckingham Palace hopes 'nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries'.
Good morning and welcome to The Telegraph's live coverage of the first day of Victory in Europe celebrations.
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