King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War on May 5, 2025 in London, England. Credit :
Jordan Pettitt – WPA Pool/Getty
King Charles and Queen Camilla are leading the way as the British royal family marks VE Day.
On May 5, the King, 76, and Queen, 77, arrived at the Queen Victoria Memorial outside of Buckingham Palace in London for their first official appearance commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The abbreviation is shorthand for Victory in Europe Day, which celebrated the victory of Allied powers and the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were in sync as they stepped out together, alongside several members of the royal family, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.
In a surprise move, William and Kate were joined by their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The royal family was also joined by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and veterans from the Royal British Legion, the U.K.’s largest charity for the armed forces.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis arrive ahead of the armed forces procession to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day also known as Victory in Europe Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, on May 5, 2025, in London. ADRIAN DENNIS/POOL/AFP via Getty
The group came together at the Queen Victoria Memorial to watch military units process down The Mall from Whitehall in honor of those who served during World War II.
After the parade wrapped, the royals will retreat inside Buckingham Palace and appear on the balcony to watch a festive flypast. The veterans will have a prime view of the action too, as they watch the aerial display from the gardens of Buckingham Palace with Starmer and other senior guests.
King Charles is a veteran himself, having served in the Royal Navy as a young man, and as sovereign, is the head of the Armed Forces. A core priority of the royal family’s public work is supporting the British military and honoring the sacrifices made by veterans across the generations, and they will do just that with a series of events this week.
Buckingham Palace previously announced that the royal family would commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day in a major way in the run-up to the landmark anniversary by making several meaningful appearances.
Following the memorial moment and patriotic flypast on May 5, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans and members of the World War II generation at Buckingham Palace. Prince William and Princess Kate are among the family members expected at the event, as is the Prime Minister.
On May 6, which coincides with the second anniversary of the King and Queen’s coronation, the Queen will view a new display of ceramic poppies at The Tower of London.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
On May 8, the royals are expected out in full force once more for a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. That evening, the King and Queen will attend a concert at Horse Guards Parade concluding the national VE Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, other family members are hitting the road to represent the British royals for the landmark anniversary. Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, attended the official commemoration of the Liberation of Denmark on May 4, while Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim will travel to the Channel Islands to mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Guernsey and Sark on May 9 and 10.
