King Charles, alongside senior members of the royal family, is set to lead a series of commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day—the day Nazi Germany
surrendered, ending World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.
The commemorations begin on Monday, launching four days of national reflection and celebration. Big Ben will chime at midday to signal the start, followed by a reading of excerpts from wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s historic VE Day address.
Over 1,300 members of the British armed forces will then march from the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and war veterans will watch the grand procession. In a symbol of solidarity, Ukrainian armed forces will also participate.
The event will culminate in a flypast by vintage military aircraft and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows aerobatic team, viewed by the royals from the Buckingham Palace balcony. Following the display, the royal family will host a special tea for about 50 veterans and wartime survivors inside the palace.
Prime Minister Starmer called the milestone “a moment of national unity,” adding: “It’s a time to honour the memory of those who gave their lives and recognize the sacrifices made for our freedom.”
Back in 1945, VE Day sparked jubilant celebrations across the UK. A young Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, famously slipped into the crowds with her sister Margaret to join the festivities incognito—a rare moment of public anonymity during her lifetime.
Reflecting on that night, the Queen once said: “I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief.”
The commemorations will conclude on Thursday—the actual anniversary—with a national service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, where Starmer will deliver a reading. Government buildings will observe a two-minute silence at midday, followed by a concert attended by the King and Queen. Photo by Wikimedia commons.