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

The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte watching the flypast. Pic: PA
Image: The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte watching the flypast. Pic: PA
The young royals watching the flypast. Pic: PA
Image: The young royals watching the flypast. Pic: PA
The Princess of Wales enjoys the commemorations with her children. Pic: PA
Image: The Princess of Wales enjoys the commemorations with her children. Pic: PA
The Princess of Wales with veteran Bernard Morgan. Pic: PA
Image: The Princess of Wales with veteran Bernard Morgan. Pic: PA
Pic: Reuters
Image: Pic: Reuters
King Charles takes the salute from the military procession. Pic: PA
Image: King Charles takes the salute from the military procession. Pic: PA
Around 1300 members of the armed forces took part. Pic: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Image: Around 1300 members of the armed forces took part. Pic: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
The crowds on Pall Mall. Pic: PA
Image: The crowds on Pall Mall. Pic: PA
Crowds on The Mall. Pic: PA
Image: Crowds on The Mall. Pic: PA
Members of the armed forces leaving Parliament Square during the military procession. pic: PA
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 waiting for the parade on the Mall. Pic: AP
Image: A woman waiting for the parade on the Mall. Pic: AP
Actor Timothy Spall rehearsing 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 Buckingham Palace. Pic: AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Reuters
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 Buckingham Palace. Pic: AS1 Amelia Turnbull RAF/UK MOD/Reuters
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 VE Day tea party. Pic: PA
Image: The King was in good spirits at a VE Day tea party. Pic: PA
King Charles at the Buckingham Palace tea party. Pic: PA
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 at a tea party hosted by The King. 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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