How Britain is marking VE Day 80: Red Arrows flypast and events across the country

The country is commemorating VE Day’s momentous anniversary today with a display of characteristic pageantry as a procession and flypast is taking place in London

It is nearly eight decades since Winston Churchill drew the curtain on war in Europe – before telling a huge crowd: “This is your victory.”

And today Britain is commemorating VE Day’s momentous anniversary with a display of characteristic pageantry. Events will honour the dead; those who gave their lives in World War Two to defeat fascism. But they will also remind us, as a group of veterans has poignantly conveyed, that “to remember is also our best hope of avoiding it ever happening again”. Here, we give you the rundown on today's events …

Military Procession

A procession of over 1,300 Armed Forces, uniformed services and young people will march to Buckingham Palace from Parliament Square. At midday an actor will recite extracts from Churchill’s VE Day speech. Second World War veteran Alan Kennett, 100, will then be passed the Commonwealth War Graves Torch for Peace by a young person. The procession will go from Parliament Square, down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall before finishing at Buckingham Palace.

Who is in the procession?

At the front will be a group including the Major General’s Retinue, led by Major General James Bowder, Officer Commanding the Household Division. It will also comprise the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, the Band of the Household Cavalry and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Group two will feature the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and a tri-service guard of honour with personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Marines. Meanwhile, the third group will have the Band of The Irish Guards and the flags of the Commonwealth nations. In total, there will be eight groups including uniformed civilian services, Armed Forces cadets and uniformed youth as well as the Band of The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade, among others.

Ukraine Armed Forces

The armed forces of Ukraine will also take part in the UK’s military procession. The joining together will symbolise the global support for war-torn Ukraine's "continued fight for freedom against Russia's unprovoked, illegal invasion", the MoD said. The representatives of the Ukrainian armed forces taking part will comprise those deployed to the UK on Operation Interflex — the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits, delivered with 12 partner nations. Major Pavlo, an officer of the Ukrainian marching contingent, said: "The participation of Ukrainian service personnel in the VE Day parade in London symbolises our strength, courage and resilience. It is a recognition that Ukraine and its heroes stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom and peace in the world. We are grateful to our allies for their support and solidarity."

Flypast

In the sky above, the procession is set to finish with a flypast featuring aircraft including the celebrated Red Arrows. The flypast will comprise six waves, with a Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at the front. Wave two will see a Voyager and A400M Atlas, with a C-17 Globemaster in the third. The fourth wave will include a P8 Poseidon MRA1 and two Typhoon FGR4 before the fifth features a Rivet Joint and two F-35B Lightning. Lastly, nine Hawk of The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team ‘The Red Arrows’ will fly, as well as four Typhoon FGR4.

The aircraft

The Lancaster is the most successful RAF heavy bomber of World War Two. The one taking part is one of just two airworthy Lancasters left of over 7,000 built. The Voyager, a modified civilian Airbus A330-200 passenger aircraft, is the RAF’s only air-to-air refuelling capability — it can also carry up to 291 passengers. The A400M Atlas provides a tactical air lift — it can carry a 30-tonne payload over 2,400 nautical miles. A long range strategic, heavy-lift transport aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster can work in support of combat, peacekeeping, or humanitarian missions.

Equipped with sensors and weapons systems, the Poseidon MRA1 is a maritime patrol aircraft. An RAF Poseidon worked with the Royal Navy in the English Channel to track Russian destroyer Severomorsk and landing ship Aleksandr Shabalin in March. The highly-agile RAF Typhoon is a combat aircraft. Meanwhile, the F-35B Lightning is the next generation of combat aircraft. A surveillance aircraft, the RC-135W Rivet Joint's sensors soak up electronic emissions from radar, communications, as well as other systems. And the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows represent the public face of the service — promoting Britain from the sky.

How to watch

Thousands of people have been seen this morning heading to The Mall to catch sight of the proceedings. Meanwhile, the King, Queen and PM Keir Starmer will watch with World War Two veterans from a specially built platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial. TV viewers can tune into a live broadcast of the procession and flypast on BBC One, VE Day 80: The Nation Pays Tribute. The coverage, presented by Sophie Raworth, starts at 10.30am.

How can you get involved

The King and Queen will also host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans and members of the Second World War generation. But around the country, VE Day 80 street parties, picnics and community get-togethers are being encouraged. And the government has launched a website with an interactive map letting people know about upcoming activities and events. Readers can find out more by visiting: https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/events/

Events

VE Day 80 celebrations are taking place around the country. In Manchester, the Trafford Centre is holding “a day of remembrance, reflection and family fun”. Open to the public with no booking required, visitors are invited “to step back in time for a poignant and vibrant celebration with a ‘Great Hall Street Party’, including military displays and live entertainment”. Edinburgh will host “Scotland Salutes: VE80” on 6 May at the city’s Usher Hall. Organised by The Royal British Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland”, the event “will be a musical extravaganza that will focus on telling the events that lead to victory in Europe”.

Meanwhile in the Welsh capital today, a celebration picnic will be held in Cardiff Castle’s public open space from 11am to 5pm. Organised by the council and supported by the Welsh government, the free “family-friendly event will feature a range of free entertainment”. Visitors are told to expect music, as well as “walkabout entertainers including circus and puppet shows as well as children’s craft activities”.

In Brighton, the Palace Pier is set to host VE Day celebrations from Saturday [May 3] to Monday and will be decorated in festive bunting. Activities will include “1940’s playlist on pier radio, old newsreel footage on a big screen during daytime, evening showing of black and white classic cinema and discounted fish and chips for service personnel and veterans”. In Northern Ireland, a civic service will be held at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on 4 May to mark VE80. It is said the service, led by the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and the Dean of Belfast Cathedral, “will recognise the experiences and contribution of civilians and civic organisations on the Home Front, during the war alongside the military victory”.

VE Day 80 – May 8

On Thursday, 80 years to the day since the end of World War Two in Europe, a service will be held at Westminster Abbey. TV viewers can watch the BBC’s coverage from 10.45am. Petroc Trelawny is providing commentary from inside and, from the BBC’s Studio in St James’s Park, Sophie Raworth will be joined by guests.

A concert is taking place in the evening on Horse Guards Parade, which will be broadcast live on BBC One. Coverage is airing from 8pm to 10pm, presented by Zoe Ball. A star-studded line up is set to feature performances from Samantha Barks, Fleur East, Calum Scott, and Toploader, among others. The concert will also include appearances from Dames Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock. Meanwhile, pubs are also able to stay open for an extra two hours to celebrate the anniversary.