VE Day latest: Kate, William, King Charles and Camilla arrive as procession begins

William shook the hand of one veteran as he passed him to take his seat, and his children followed his example with Kate the last to greet the old serviceman and she sat beside him.

He later appeared to show her some photographs and she took one to give it a closer look.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were last seen together in public when they attended the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham Estate.

(front row, left to right) The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales, during the military procession (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:19

There was applause from the crowds as the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, took their seats to watch the military procession arrive at Buckingham Palace.

They have joined other royals and Second World War veterans on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace to observe military units processing down The Mall from Whitehall.

(front row, left to right) The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales, during the military procession (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte arrive to attend the armed forces and veterans’ parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in London (REUTERS)

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:12

Normandy veteran Alan Kennett, 100, who was in the RAF with the Mustang Squadron and was in Celle near Belsen on VE Day, formally started the VE Day procession in central London on Monday.

Garrison Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One Andrew Stokes, of the Coldstream Guards, asked Mr Kennett, who was sat on a chair in Parliament Square flanked by cadets, for permission to march.

He said: “Thank you and your generation for securing our freedom 80 years ago. May I have your permission to start the parade please?”

“Carry on,” Mr Kennett replied.

Mr Kennett had earlier been presented with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Torch of Peace by one of the cadets.

The parade involving more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups has now got underway.

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:05

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive ahead of the military procession (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Charles and Camilla wave at crowds as they arrive (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:04

Sir Winston Churchill’s victory speech is now being read out by actor Timothy Spall to open proceedings.

Big Ben has just chimed midday, signalling the start of the official VE Day celebrations.

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:02

The military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day has got underway.

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:01

Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives ahead of the military procession (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan arrives ahead of the military procession (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch (left) ahead of the military procession (Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 12:00

“I just love the celebration of it all,” said Laura Bill, a 1940s re-enactor from Staffordshire who travelled for three hours to Buckingham Palace.

Ms Bill journeyed to central London with her family, who all dressed in 1940s-style clothing for the parade.

“We’ve done reenactments all over the country.

“We shop at vintage shops a lot. There are traders at events who we buy clothes from.

“Today is about coming together, and I’m so excited for it.”

Jacqueline Bill, Laura’s mother, said: “It’s great to do this as a family. It’s more of a social thing. We know a woman who collects 1940s wedding dresses, we’re hoping to meet up with her later.”

Tara Cobham5 May 2025 11:58