British royal family watches military parade marking start of VE Day events in London

Britain is marking the 80th anniversary of  this week with four days of commemorations honoring the end of World War II on the continent, as well as those who served and perished during the conflict.

The official surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces took place on May 8, 1945, ending a brutal war that claimed tens of millions of lived and 

London’s commemorations began Monday when Big Ben, the clock and bell in Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, struck at midday and extracts from wartime leader Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech echoed across the capital.

A military parade, featuring members of the United Kingdom’s armed forces, marched from parliament to Buckingham Palace. It was watched by King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The King and Queen led the royal family onto the Buckingham Palace balcony toMembers of the British royal family attending Monday’s procession wore uniforms chosen to reflect both personal military ties and historical resonance. King Charles wore a Naval No.1 uniform with no medals or decorations – mirroring the attire of his grandfather, King George VI, who stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony on VE Day in 1945. Queen Camilla appeared beside him in a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, adorned with a 12th Royal Lancers Brooch – honoring her late father’s regiment. cheers from the crowd below. Moments later, the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows display team streaked across the sky in a flypast that left trails of red, white and blue smoke.