Crowds gather for first day of VE Day celebrations
Huge crowds took to the street yesterday to celebrate the start of four days of VE Day celebrations.
More than 1,300 armed forces and members of the public took part in a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon, to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe.
World War Two veterans watched the event from the end of the Mall at the Queen Victoria Memorial, alongside the King, Queen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The procession was followed by a flypast of military aircraft, led by one of two operational Lancaster bombers, 23 aircraft including some of the most advanced combat aircraft and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
King Charles, wearing his naval uniform, and Queen Camilla were in the front row at the Queen Victoria Memorial during the procession. Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their three children were also on the viewing platform watching the parade.
Afterwards, the royals went to the Buckingham Palace balcony to greet the crowds gathered on the Mall and watch the military flypast.
London’s Cenotaph was draped in Union Jack flags and will serve as a place of silent tribute to those who died in World War Two, both at home and abroad.
Commemorative events across the capital will continue until Tuesday.
Tomorrow, the Parliament Choir will host an anniversary concert at the Palace of Westminster, marking the moment when a newsflash announced May 8 1945 as VE Day.
Pictured top: A young girl held aloft as the public wave flags outside Buckingham Palace after the flypast (Picture: Stephen Chung / Alamy Stock Photo)
