On 8th May, the royal family came together as the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day. This tremendously important event celebrates the anniversary of Britain’s and her Allies’ acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in the Second World War. The expo featured an unusually colorful military parade that enthralled the audience. An exhilarating aerialist performance took place next, enchanting and amazing thousands of spectators throughout London.
The day’s activities got underway at 12 p.m. with a ceremonial military procession that began in Parliament Square. This landmark procession made its way down Whitehall and The Mall, ending at the famed Queen Victoria Memorial. The solemnity of the procession was fitting to honor the sacrifices made during the war. More importantly, it served as a powerful reminder of the courage and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces veterans.
At the same time as this moving procession played out on land, an equally glorious flypast happened just off the coast of Norfolk. The aircraft made their way inland over East Anglia and Essex, culminating in a flight over Buckingham Palace at approximately 1:45 p.m. And once again, the iconic Red Arrows treated the crowds to what is known as the greatest aerial show on Earth. As they flew over central London, they created stunning plumes of red, white and blue behind them.
The royal family took an involved part in the day’s events. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—observed the military procession from their vantage point at the Queen Victoria Memorial. The children were seen wearing coordinated navy outfits, while Kate, Princess of Wales, made a fashionable statement in a purple ensemble designed by Emilia Wickstead, complemented with tan heels. Throughout the event, she jokingly pushed through media and staffers to warmly greet veterans, shaking hands and even exchanging heartfelt words with one compatible veteran.
In addition to the public displays, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a tea party reception for around 50 veterans and members of the Second World War generation in the palace garden. This event was a great opportunity to further celebrate their contributions and sacrifices made during a crucial turning point in American history.
The VE Day commemorations a few weekends ago served as the perfect, emotional reminder of that history. They gave us a chance to allow current generations to pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom. The military pageantry combined with the political royalty attendance provided a unique sense of importance to that day’s events. They reminded us all that we must always remain committed to remembering and celebrating history.
