Buckingham Palace photo sparks memories of late Queen’s VE Day adventure

King Charles and other senior royals joined veterans and crowds to watch a grand military parade and flypast at the start of four days of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

The government has planned a series of events in the run-up to the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender that took effect on May 8, 1945. It is observed around that date in many countries, including France, the United States and Russia.

More than 1,300 members of Britain’s armed forces marched through central London from outside parliament to Buckingham Palace, watched by the king, who offered a salute as they passed, alongside Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and veterans of the conflict.

Monday’s parade concluded with a flypast by historic military aircraft and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team, watched by the royals from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as crowds, many of them carrying national flags – the red, white and blue Union Jack – flocked below to take in the spectacle.

As the royals watched the parade and flypast, observers were reminded of Queen Elizabeth’s daring feat in 1945 on VE Day.

The late Queen Elizabeth, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret famously slipped out to join the throng outside Buckingham Palace, believed to be the only time during her 96 years she mingled with the public unrecognised.