
VE Day 2025 LIVE: King Charles and royal family set to lead nation in 80th anniversary celebration
Today marks 80 years since Winston Churchill made a long-awaited announcement - that the scourge of war that had gripped the world for six cruel years was finally at an end. To mark the momentous anniversary, the UK has a day of pageantry on the cards, with events planned to honour those who gave their lives during World War Two to stop fascism in its tracks.
But with the rise of ugly ideologies like those peddled by Adolf Hitler making an appearance across the globe, today's celebrations seem more poignant than ever. A group of veterans has wisely reminded us "to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again".
Kicking off events today, a monumental procession of more than 1,300 Armed Forces personnel, uniformed services and young people will march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square, where Churchill's iconic VE Day speech will be read by an actor at midday. Second World War veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace.
Nexy, His Majesty and Queen Camilla will watch a Bank Holiday procession and fly-past from the Red Arrows.
07:12Ryan Fahey
How Britain will mark VE Day 80: Red Arrows flypast and events across the country
It is nearly eight decades since Winston Churchill drew the curtain on war in Europe – before telling a huge crowd: 'This is your victory.'
And next week Britain will commemorate VE Day's momentous anniversary with a display of characteristic pageantry. Events will honour the dead; those who gave their lives in World War Two to defeat fascism. But they will also remind us, as a group of veterans has poignantly conveyed, that 'to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again'. Here, we give you the rundown on what's happening…
Military Procession
Bank Holiday Monday will see a procession of over 1,300 Armed Forces, uniformed services and young people march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. At midday an actor will recite extracts from Churchill's VE Day speech. Second World War veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace.
Public invited to VE Day 80 fly-past and procession – exact timing and locations
The King and Queen will join Second World War veterans to watch a Bank Holiday procession and fly-past featuring the Red Arrows to mark 80 years since VE Day.
The public are being invited to line the Mall for the May 5 event, which will see over 1,300 people including Armed Forces members marching to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. Big Ben striking midday will mark the beginning, with extracts from Winston Churchill's VE Day speech recited by an actor. Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed a Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person.
The King and Queen are set to join World War Two veterans, as well as PM Keir Starmer, to watch proceedings from a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial. Other Royals will watch too, including Prince William and Kate.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
PICTURES: Strikemaster pair perform over Rhyl Beach
Rhyl resident Adrian Evans captured incredible photos of the Strikemaster pair, which flew over Rhyl Beach, on June 8. The historic aircrafts roared above gardens and practiced impressive manoeuvres on their way to The RAF Cosford Air Show. Talking about snapping photos of the BAC 167 Strikemasters, Adrian said: "I was in the kitchen when I heard the noise, grabbed my camera, and rushed upstairs to the balcony, trying to get some shots through all the trees surrounding us. The jets roar into the sky - the pilots show off their skill! (Image: Adrian Evans) "I've heard many people lament the absence of Rhyl Air Show - it was well-loved, drawing visitors from far and wide, and always highlighted Rhyl in a positive light amidst all the negative news that tends to circulate. "From what I understand, they couldn't hold the air show this time due to ongoing sea defence work as it would have posed safety concerns. "I enjoy photographing a variety of subjects, though I don't know much about planes or the military." The fabulous Strikemaster at dive speed (Image: Adrian Evans) Many residents took to the Rhyl Today Facebook page to share their excitement after spotting the aircraft overhead. One person wrote: "I was lucky enough to see it all from my bedroom window. It's a pity more people didn't know in advance - only a handful were at the Kite Surf Café." Another shared: "They did three vertical loops, and then they were gone." A third commented: "Absolutely brilliant view from my place - loved it!" Others echoed the excitement: "They looked amazing - I saw them flying along the coast," said one. "They did the loop right over my caravan," added another. One user wrote: "They were heading to RAF Cosford today. I watched the display there - it was fantastic. Bring back the Rhyl Air Show!" MORE NEWS How much was spent on failed Denbighshire Leisure sale – full cost breakdown SC2 water park in Rhyl to reopen after 17-month closure The Rhyl Air Show took a break in 2024. The event, organised by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL), which typically draws thousands to Rhyl, was postponed due to the Red Arrows being on an international tour to celebrate their 60th anniversary. The Red Arrows have been a key feature of the show in previous years. Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said at the time: "We have concluded that it would be impossible for DLL to deliver a show in keeping with the proud tradition of the Rhyl Air Show, which also meets public expectations, but we will come back in 2025 stronger." The show is not expected to take place this August, and no official announcement has yet been made. The Red Arrows' full 2025 display schedule has been published - and Rhyl is not on the list this year." Work on the Central Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme is ongoing. Work is set to continue this Summer.


Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
King Charles' to 'skip' birthday parade tradition at Trooping the Colour
With King Charles' official birthday celebrations set to kick off on Saturday, here's everything you need to know about Trooping the Colour 2025 - including what royals are expected to attend, how to watch, and where the longstanding tradition comes from One of the most-loved royal events of the year is fast approaching - Trooping the Colour. The sovereign's birthday parade is set to take place in London at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, with thousands of royal fans expected to flood the Mall to celebrate the important event. With a huge military event and procession kicking off the celebrations, the day will be topped off with a balcony appearance by the royals and a stunning flypast by the RAF. Here's everything we know about Trooping the Colour 2025... What is Trooping the Colour? The annual event of Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the King or Queen for more than 260 years. The ceremony involves hundreds of horses and soldiers carrying out complex battlefield drill manoeuvres to military music. More than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together for the impressive display. During the parade, the royals will travel from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in a procession - either on horseback or in carriages. At Horse Guards, they then watch the military display before joining the procession back to Buckingham Palace once it is over. After the parade, the royals then gather on the Palace balcony for a march-past and the fly-past by the RAF, which includes the Red Arrows, and will conclude the day's celebrations. What is the significance of Trooping the Colour? The very first Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed during the reign of King Charles II, who was Monarch from 1660 to 1685. However, it wasn't until 1748 that it was decided for the parade to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign, becoming an annual event after George III became King in 1760. Guards taking part are drawn from the Regiments of the Sovereign's Household Troops, which has become the practice for Regiments of Foot Guards to troop their Colour in turn. Although King Charles' actual birthday falls on November 14, the practice was established long ago of marking an 'Official Birthday' of the Sovereign in the summer to stand a better chance of good weather for the parade. When will Trooping the Colour take place, and how long will it last? Trooping the Colour will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, with the royal family first expected to make an appearance in the procession to leave Buckingham Palace at approximately 10:45am. The end of the celebrations will be marked with the RAF flypast which is expected to take place at 1pm. King Charles is one of many monarchs whose Trooping the Colour celebrations has not coincided with their actual birthday. Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was also born in November - not the best time of year for a huge outdoor celebration - so held it in the summer instead. The monarch after Edward VII - George V - helpfully had a birthday in June, but the Queen's father, George VI, whose birthday was in December, reintroduced the tradition of an official birthday, which Elizabeth II, who had an April birthday, continued. Which royals be at Trooping the Colour 2025? Nearly all members of the Royal Family appear at Trooping the Colour - it's usually one of the rare public appearances made by young royals Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Royal sources said other members of the Royal Family are expected to attend in line with last year, where only working members of the family were present. It has not been confirmed as yet by Buckingham Palace which royals will appear on the balcony for the RAF flypast. In years gone by, the late Queen used to invite all members of her extended family onto the balcony at Trooping the Colour. However, at the last Trooping, the balcony was limited to working royals only, with the same happening at King Charles ' Coronation. This meant there was no place for the King's younger disgraced brother Prince Andrew nor his estranged son Prince Harry. This means the likes of Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as Zara and Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips have not been seen on the balcony in recent years. However, at the 2024 Trooping, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Windsor all made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Will King Charles or Prince William ride a horse at Trooping the Colour? At last year's Trooping the Colour, King Charles opted to ride in the royal carriage with Camilla: a choice that was made to make the King more safe and comfortable after his cancer treatment. While it has yet to be officially confirmed, it has been reported that the King will once again join Queen Camilla in a carriage for the procession up the Mall. Despite the King opting to ride in the carriage, Prince William, as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, is expected to join Princess Anne and Prince Edward on horseback for a second year. What time will the RAF flypast by the Red Arrows take place, and where will I be able to see the planes? The flypast by the RAF is set to take place at 1pm while members of the Royal Family watch from the Buckingham Palace balcony. The route for the flypast, which includes the Red Arrows, is yet to be officially confirmed, but the Military Air Shows has revealed an air restrictions map which shows the expected official route. The proposed restrictions are in the vicinity of the North Sea, East Anglia, Essex and London, before flying over Buckingham Palace at 1pm. Can anyone go to Trooping the Colour? Tickets to watch Trooping the Colour from the grandstands at Horse Guards Parade were allocated by ballot, with those lucky enough to receive tickets having already been informed. While it is now too late to get tickets to this year's event, there are still ways to watch Trooping the Colour. For those wanting to see the action in person, spectators can gather near Buckingham Palace and on The Mall to see the royals in the procession and on the balcony. The event kicks off at 10am and anybody wanting to watch from the side lines is encouraged to get there by 9am. Meanwhile, Trooping the Colour is usually broadcast live on BBC1 from 10:30am.


STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Taxi outing celebrates 77th year with water guns and plenty of ice cream
The popular Edinburgh Taxi Outing has taken place for its 77th year, providing a fun day out for children with additional needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses. Setting off from Edinburgh Zoo on Tuesday, children were taken by dressed up drivers in a convoy of police-escorted taxis, decorated with balloons or as floats through the city and out to Archerfield Walled Garden where they stopped for a picnic. The parade will stop outside Luca's to allow for the refilling of water tanks and for families to to fill up on ice cream. In keeping with tradition, the cabs were decorated with balloons and colourful figures. The taxi outing, which is free of charge for the families involved, began in the wake of the Second World War in 1947 and has continued ever since. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country