The Prince and Princess of Wales were among the senior royals to join the King and Queen to kick off VE Day commemorations.
Prince William and Kate, along with their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, watched the military procession from the Queen Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke of Kent.
After the procession, the royals are expected to gather on the palace balcony to watch the Red Arrows lead a spectacular flypast with historic and current military aircraft.
Later today, Charles and Camilla will host a tea party reception for around 50 veterans and members of the Second World War generation in the palace garden.
This will include British and Commonwealth Armed Forces veterans and women’s Royal Navy Wrens, as well as the same royal family members and Sir Keir.
VE Day celebrates the day Britain and its Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender during the Second World War.
© Getty ImagesThe Princess Royal
The Princess Royal gazed solemnly out of the window as she arrived for the procession.
© James Veysey/ShutterstockThe Wales family
The Prince and Princess of Wales were all smiles as they arrived with their three children to watch the proceedings.
Kate looked lovely in a purple Emilia Wickstead ensemble with tan heels, while George, Charlotte and Louis coordinated in navy.
William sported RAF No.1 Uniform.
© James Veysey/ShutterstockKate’s sweet interaction
Kate was seen shaking hands and talking animatedly to D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 101.
He volunteered on his 18th birthday in 1942 and served as a codebreaker in the RAF until 1947.
© James Veysey/ShutterstockGeorge and Charlotte
George and Charlotte was spotted listening intently to the veteran.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesLooking sharp dad
Louis was seen brushing off tree pollen from his father’s uniform in a sweet gesture.
© Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe King takes his seat
The King was seen chatting to Joy Trew, 98, who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
Britain’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, was seated behind the monarch with his wife, Victoria.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesRoyal salute
His Majesty saluted as the procession made its way past Buckingham Palace.
Charles wore his Naval Uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, as his grandfather, King George VI, wore on the Buckingham Palace Balcony on VE Day, 1945.
© Getty ImagesBeautiful in blue
Her Majesty wore a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, her late father’s regiment.
© Getty ImagesAnne in uniform
The Princess Royal wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) with no decorations.
The late Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the military uniform for the Buckingham Palace Balcony appearance on VE Day 1945 as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Services.
Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, also sported his naval uniform.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesThe Edinburghs
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were seen deep in conversation with veterans on the dais.
Prince Edward wore Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards, while his wife, Sophie, looked elegant in a pink checked coat dress from Suzannah London.
Procession and flypast route
The military procession started from Parliament Square in London from 12pm, travelling along Whitehall and The Mall, finishing at the Queen Victoria Memorial.
The procession featured an impressive display of pageantry by Regiments of the Household Division and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
The flypast will include the Red Arrows, which will see them leave streams of red, white and blue, as they soar over central London.
© GettyMilitary aircraft, including the Voyager transport aircraft, a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, Typhoon, and F-35 fighter jets, will also be involved in the flypast, as well as historic Second World War-era aircraft.
The display will begin off the coast of Norfolk, before making its way inland over East Anglia and Essex, before the aircraft reach the capital, flying over Buckingham Palace at around 13.45pm.
The aircraft will then disperse over Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
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