Royals wave as thousands gather to watch VE Day flypast over Buckingham Palace
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
By Josh Payne, PA Chief Reporter
Senior royals waved to thousands of people from the Buckingham Palace balcony as a Red Arrows flypast continued the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The King and Queen, joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, watched on with tilted heads as the VE Day flypast soared over.
After the display, Prince George joined his parents at a veterans’ tea party, where he and William spoke with 101-year-old Royal Engineers veteran Alfred Littlefield who served during D-Day.
Veterans smiled and looked up as the flypast went over the palace, and army veteran Joe Mines, 100, could be seen waving while others applauded.
The display narrowly avoided heavy rainfall as the weather changed just as crowds began to disperse.
The spectacle followed a military procession, in which Nato allies marched alongside 1,300 members of the UK armed forces.
Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, spoken by actor Timothy Spall, kicked off events on Bank Holiday Monday.
There was applause from the crowds as the royals took their seats in the royal box to watch the parade, while William shook the hand of one veteran as he took his seat.
His children followed his example, with Kate the last to greet the serviceman as she sat beside him.
He later appeared to show her some photographs and she took one to give it a closer look.
The King saluted as the procession reached the Queen Victoria Memorial.
Shortly after the royals took their seats, light drizzle prompted many to put up umbrellas, as the King helped to wrap veteran Joy Trew up in blankets.
The royal family are scheduled to take part in engagements over the next four days, less than a week after the Duke of Sussex told the BBC his father will not speak to him and he does not know how much longer the King has left.
The King and Queen are “looking forward” to the week’s events, and it is understood that, out of respect for the surviving veterans, Buckingham Palace hopes “nothing will detract or distract from celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries”.
In Whitehall, the Cenotaph was draped in a large Union flag, with the south and north face of the landmark covered.
It is the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920.
Crowds started to gather on The Mall on Monday morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a viewing spot.
Members of the armed forces and members of the RAF Regiment ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces and members of the RAF Regiment ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
Second World War veterans are escorted into Buckingham Palace following the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
A child wears a royal guard costume during a military procession in central London to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Henry Nicholls/PA Wire
A child waves a Union flag on The Mall, in central London during a military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Henry Nicholls/PA Wire
The Princess of Wales with veteran Bernard Morgan during the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Toby Melville/PA Wire
(left to right) The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George , Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales, watching the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces during a military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Members of the royal family (left to right) the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Police officers parade on The Mall during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Carl Court/PA Wire
Pipers from the Scottish and Irish regiments during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Alberto Pezzali/PA Wire
Grenadier Guards march past the Queen Victoria Memorial during a military procession along The Mall to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces during a military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Members of the military march along Whitehall during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
Members of the military march along Whitehall during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
Members of the Ukrainian army forces during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Carl Court/PA Wire
People watch a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Members of the Grenadier Guards during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Alberto Pezzali/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Flags of Commonwealth nations are carried by members the armed forces during the V-E Day 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Lucy North/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces during a military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Members of the Band of The Irish Guards during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Lucy North/PA Wire
Members of the armed forces during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
King Charles III takes the salute from the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Carl Court/PA Wire
King Charles III takes the salute from the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Aaron Chownl/PA Wire
(left to right) The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis, and the Prince of Wales watching the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Major General James Bowder, head of the Household Division leads a military procession along The Mall to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
(left to right) Chelsea pensioners Alan Rutter and Archie Ferguson near Parliament Square, central London, during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
Members of the Colour Party carry flags of the Commonwealth nations during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
Members of the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery parade during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Carl Court/PA Wire
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King Charles III waves as he attends the armed forces and veterans' parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in London. Photo Toby Melville/PA Wire
Major General James Bowder, head of the Household Division leads a military march along Whitehall during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
The Princess Royal speaks with a veteran ahead of the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, at Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Second World War veteran Alan Kennett receives a peace rose near Parliament Square, central London, ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
People wait ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
Members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland during a military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
Members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards during a military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in honour of those who served during the Second World War, on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in central London. Photo Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
People wait ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
A woman holds a photograph of her father ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Jaimi Joy/PA Wire
The Massed Pipes and Drums march past the Palace of Westminster during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo James Manning/PA Wire
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment during a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Members of the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry parade on The Mall ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo Alberto Pezzali/PA Wire
Military personnel near Parliament Square, central London, ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
Actor Timothy Spall performs his reading of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech in front of a statue of the war time leader, during the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War, in central London. Photo James Manning/PA Wire
Second World War veteran Alan Kennett near Parliament Square, central London, ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War. Photo Jeff Moore/PA Wire
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