VE Day in pictures: The Royal Family, huge crowds, a military parade and a flypast

Thousands lined the streets in London to mark the start of four days of UK-wide celebrations commemorating 80 years since Sir Winston Churchill declared victory for the Allies in Europe in the Second World War.

Monday 5 May 2025 17:58, UK

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Today marks the first of four days of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
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Four generations of the Royal Family have taken part in celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, as thousands of people gathered in central London to join the celebrations.

The King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, waved to huge crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

A number of surviving veterans attended the commemorations, which included a military parade, a Red Arrows flypast and street parties.

Here are some of the memorable images of the day's festivities.

VE Day latest: Updates as street parties get started

PABest (left to right) the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025.
Image: The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte watching the flypast. Pic: PA
Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
Image: The young royals watching the flypast. Pic: PA
The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, May 5, 2025. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS
Image: The Princess of Wales enjoys the commemorations with her children. Pic: PA
PABest The Princess of Wales speaks to veteran Bernard Morgan during the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025.
Image: The Princess of Wales with veteran Bernard Morgan. Pic: PA
The Princess of Wales shakes hands with a veteran. Pic: Reuters
Image: Pic: Reuters
PABest King Charles III takes the salute from the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025.
Image: King Charles takes the salute from the military procession. Pic: PA
PABest..King Charles III takes the salute from the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025. PA Photo. Around 1300 members of the armed forces, including the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force, along with Commonwealth nations, Ukraine, and Nato allies are taking part in the military procession for Victory in Europe Day, which is celebrated each year on May 8, marking the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945. See PA story MEMORIAL VEDay. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Image: Around 1300 members of the armed forces took part. Pic: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
A person in the crowd waves a Union Jack flag, as members of the public walk up The Mall, near Buckingham Palace in central London, following a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London, May 5, 2025. Andrew Matthews/Pool via REUTERS
Image: The crowds on Pall Mall. Pic: PA
Members of the public walk up The Mall following a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Pic: PA
Image: Crowds on The Mall. Pic: PA
PABest Members of the armed forces leaving Parliament Square during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025.
Image: Members of the armed forces leaving Parliament Square during the military procession. pic: PA
Second World War veteran Alan Kennett near Parliament Square. Pic: PA
Image: Second World War veteran Alan Kennett near Parliament Square. Pic: PA
A young boy on the Mall.
Image: A young boy on the Mall.
A woman wears British flag sunglasses earrings, hat and ribbons as she takes her place on the Mall to wait for the VE Day 80th anniversary parade. PIc: AP
Image: A woman waiting for the parade on the Mall. Pic: AP
Timothy Spall during rehearsals for his reading of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech. Pic: PA
Image: Actor Timothy Spall rehearsing for his reading of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech. Pic: PA
An aircraft flies past the Buckingham Palace as part of the armed forces and veterans' parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in London, Britain, May 5, 2025. AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image: An aircraft flies past Buckingham Palace. Pic: AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Reuters
A Lancaster Bomber taking part in the flypast. Pic: MOD/PA
Image: A Lancaster Bomber taking part in the flypast. Pic: MOD/PA
The Royal Air Force team flies past the Buckingham Palace as part of the armed forces and veterans' parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in London, Britain, May 5, 2025. AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image: The Royal Air Force team flies past Buckingham Palace. Pic: AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Reuters
The military flypast passes over The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
Image: The military flypast passes over The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
The King was in good spirits at a the VE Day tea party. Pic: PA
Image: The King was in good spirits at a VE Day tea party. Pic: PA
King Charles III (centre right) joins Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Picture date: Monday May 5, 2025.
Image: King Charles at the Buckingham Palace tea party. Pic: PA
Prince George and the Princess of Wales joined veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
Image: Prince George and the Princess of Wales joined veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace. Pic: PA
The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a tea party hosted by The King, Patron of the Royal British Legion, and The Queen for veterans and members of the Second World War generation. Pic: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
Image: The Prince and Princess of Wales at a tea party hosted by The King. Pic: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

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