King Charles and Queen Camilla will welcome war veterans to a special tea party at Buckingham Palace as part of the nationwide events marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day — the end of
World War Two in Europe.
As part of the celebrations, Their Majesties will appear on the Palace balcony to watch a commemorative flypast and attend a celebratory concert.
The official events kick off on 5 May, starting with a grand military procession of 1,300 service members. The march will begin in Parliament Square, and at exactly 12:00 BST, Winston Churchill's iconic VE Day speech will be read aloud as Big Ben chimes.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirmed that the procession will head down The Mall, where it will be viewed by King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The flypast will feature the Red Arrows and historic WWII aircraft, offering a powerful tribute to the wartime generation.
After the procession and flypast, the King and Queen will host around 50 veterans, along with their families and others from the WWII generation, for a tea party in the Palace gardens. In a nod to sustainability, the event’s bunting will be made from recycled fabric.
The commemorations continue throughout the week:
8 May — the official VE Day — will see a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey, followed by an evening concert at Horse Guards Parade. The concert will include music, readings, and stories from the war years, featuring performers like Samantha Barks and Toploader, and a nostalgic performance inspired by the classic BBC comedy Dad’s Army.
This anniversary holds deep significance, as it may be the last major commemoration to include a large group of living WWII veterans.
A symbolic moment during the military procession will see a Torch for Peace passed from a young person to Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old WWII veteran. The torch is part of an initiative by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
VE Day 80 – Schedule of Key Events:
5 May: Military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, flypast, veterans’ tea party, and nationwide street parties.
6 May: Ceramic poppy installations at the Tower of London, with historic sites across the UK lit up in remembrance.
7 May: Special concert in Westminster Hall, at the heart of the Palace of Westminster.
8 May: Service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, and a musical tribute concert at Horse Guards Parade.