The Prince and Princess of Wales’s children have joined the King, Queen and veterans to watch a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The procession of 1,300 members of the armed forces and Nato allies, past some of London’s most famous buildings and monuments and ending at Buckingham Palace, commemorated the service of those who fought to bring peace to Europe and the rest of the world.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis made a rare public appearance with their parents William and Kate to see the spectacle which began a few minutes before they arrived at the royal box.
Charles and Camilla led the royal party sitting in the shadow of the Queen Victoria Memorial, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent.
Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were sitting nearby, and crowds lined The Mall, with some waiting since early morning to secure a spot to watch events.
Actor Timothy Spall read extracts from wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech and 100-year-old RAF veteran Alan Kennett formally started the parade when he received the Commonwealth War Graves’ Torch For Peace.
VE Day was declared on May 8 1945 and Mr Kennett learnt about the historic news in a cinema when a soldier drove a jeep into the venue and shouted: “The war is over.”
The Mall was the setting for jubilant scenes that day, with the royal family playing a central role in the celebrations as crowds gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
King George VI and the Queen Mother made eight balcony appearances and were joined by their daughters, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and Princess Margaret, who later famously slipped into the crowds in The Mall celebrating the end of hostilities.
George, 11, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, were last seen together in public at the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham Estate.
Louis, who during past public appearances has stolen the show, did not disappoint royal fans and was seen at one moment sticking out his tongue – a trademark gesture for the young royal.
He also held William’s gold aiguillettes, the braided loops hanging from the shoulder of his RAF uniform, and appeared to touch his father’s shoulder again, and also held out his hands palms up as if he was testing for rain, which later fell.
When the Waleses and their children took their seats they shook the hand of Royal British Legion veteran Bernard Morgan, who was sitting next to Kate, and he appeared to show her photographs.
