LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s King Charles and other senior royals are due to join veterans and crowds to watch a grand military parade and flypast at the start of four days of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The government has planned a series of events in the run-up to the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender that took effect on May 8, 1945. It is observed around that date in many countries, including France, the United States and Russia.
The celebrations, which come as U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing for a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, will begin on Monday when London’s famous Big Ben clock strikes midday and extracts from British war leader Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech will be read out.
More than 1,300 members of Britain’s armed forces will march through central London from outside parliament to Buckingham Palace, watched by the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate, along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and veterans of the conflict.
Ukrainian armed forces will also take part to show Britain’s continued support for Kyiv.
In 1945, VE Day was greeted by wild celebrations in London and across Britain.
The late Queen Elizabeth, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret famously slipped out to join the throng outside Buckingham Palace, believed to be the only time during her 96 years she mingled with the public unrecognised.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to those prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Starmer said on social media, as the government set out a new 50-million-pound ($66 million) scheme to support veterans.
As the parade concludes, there will be a flypast by historic military aircraft and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team, watched by the royals from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The royals will then host about 50 veterans and others who lived through the war for a tea party inside the palace.
(Reporting by Michael Holden and Muvija M; Editing by Ros Russell)
