Beaming William and Kate join King and Queen for VE Day concert at the Horse Guards Parade - as Charles makes moving reference to his mother's post-war celebrations in poignant speech and calls for peace

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By REBECCA ENGLISH ROYAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL and ELMIRA TANATAROVA

Published: 15:32 EDT, 8 May 2025 | Updated: 20:57 EDT, 8 May 2025

The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla - as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - at a deeply moving concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday.

William, 42, and Kate, 43, beamed as the stepped out for tonight's event at the Horse Guards Parade in London, presented by Zoe Ball, with performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago.

It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War - including a very emotional testimony of a man who lost his family during the Birmingham Blitz, delivered by Richard Armitage - who was seated along with 12,000 people in the audience.

Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music, along with Prince Edward, 61, and his wife Sophie, 60. 

The royals were animated as ever, and chatted away to veterans in the Royal Box all night, joining in with waving Union Jack flags around during the more upbeat performances.

The artists featured included the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who offered her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again to close off the show with no dry eye in the house - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.

Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.

Audiences were also be treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other actors who lent their voices this evening were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock. 

In another moving moment tonight, the King used a keynote speech on the day Britain celebrated the end of war in Europe 80 years ago to call for greater efforts towards global peace.

King Charles's speech in full 

Ladies and Gentlemen, It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that ‘the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes’.

The liberation of Europe was secured. His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.

While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone. Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day.

That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them. Over the course of the last year, there have been 80th anniversaries across Europe, from the hills of Monte Cassino to the Lower Rhine at Arnhem. Last June, my wife and I were profoundly moved to join veterans of D-Day at the new national memorial overlooking Gold Beach, as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home.

In January, as the world marked the liberation of Auschwitz, I met survivors whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil. All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores. The celebration that evening was marked by my own late mother who, just nineteen-years-old, described in her diary how she mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and, in her own words, ‘walked for miles’ among them. The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote: ‘Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2 a.m. Bed at 3 a.m.!’ 

The Allied victory being celebrated then, as now, was a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity. Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny. But even as we rejoice again today, we must also remember those who were still fighting, still living with conflict and starvation on the other side of the world. For them, peace would not come until months later with V.J. Day – Victory in the Pacific – which my father witnessed at first-hand from the deck of his destroyer, H.M.S. Whelp. In remembering the past, we must also look to the future. As the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles, the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward, to ensure their experiences are never to be forgotten. We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.

And as we reach the conclusion of the 80th Anniversary commemorations, we should remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said ‘Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war’. In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict. For as my grandfather put it: ‘We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.’ Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy – so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: ‘they too bequeathed a better world’. 

With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'.

'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said.

'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will."

'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy – so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: "they too bequeathed a better world".'

It was timed to echo the wartime address of King George VI to the nation on VE Day eight decades ago.

The King added: 'It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that "the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes". The liberation of Europe was secured.

'His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible. While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.

'Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day. 'That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.'

The King highlighted similar anniversaries across Europe over the course of the last year, ranging from Monte Cassino to Arnhem.

He also spoke of how 'profoundly moved' he was to have joined the veterans of D-Day last June in Normandy 'as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home'.

Highlighting his visit to Poland in January to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz, he spoke of meeting survivors 'whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.'

Charles continued: 'All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.'

In a sweet personal tribute he also recalled the experience of his own mother, then Princess Elizabeth, who memorably recalled in her diary how, at the age of just nineteen, mingled anonymously in the crowds across central London and 'walked for miles' among them.

'The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote: "Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into House. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am.!"' the King said.

He added: 'I do hope your celebrations tonight are almost as joyful, although I rather doubt I shall have the energy to sing until 2am, let alone lead you all in a giant conga from here back to Buckingham Palace!'

Returning to his theme of global peace and unity, Charles highlighted how the Allied victory 80 years ago was the result 'of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity'.

He said: 'Their collective endeavour remains a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.

'But even as we rejoice again today, we must also remember those who were still fighting, still living with conflict and starvation on the other side of the world.

'For them, peace would not come until months later with V.J. Day – Victory in the Pacific – which my father witnessed at first-hand from the deck of his destroyer, H.M.S. Whelp.'

The King said it was their legacy - and our responsibility today - to remember the past by looking to the future.

'As the number of those who lived through the Second World War so sadly dwindles, the more it becomes our duty to carry their stories forward, to ensure their experiences are never to be forgotten,' he said.

'We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.'

The royals were effortlessly elegant as they attended the festivities this evening.  Mother-of-three Kate stunned in an all-white ensemble, rewearing an effortlessly elegant Cream Tailored Bouclé and Chiffon Midi Dress by Self-Portrait.

It featured a blazer-like top bodice which cinched at the waist, teamed with a flowing tulle and lace skirt.

To accessorise, the Princess donned a string of pearls, and ornate earrings by Orelia Jewellery.

Boosting her height, Kate wore some beige suede heels and also carried onto a black leather clutch. 

She kept her make-up sophisticated and glam, with a smokey shadow that accentuated her eyes and a dusky pink lipstick. 

And pinning her long wavy tresses back, the Princess wore a hair bow from Jigsaw.

Her husband, William, meanwhile was smart in a black suit - and deep blue tie.

Elsewhere, looking dapper, Charles wore a lounge suit with medals and neck order Meanwhile, his wife Camilla opted for a navy blue and white jumpsuit by Anna Valentine with a long navy blue embroidered coat.

To accessorise, she donned a Britannia brooch, featuring the union flag, which belonged to her late mother-in-law; Queen Elizabeth II.

It comes as earlier today, Kate made a heartfelt tribute to her mother-in-law as she joined members of the Royal Family for a service marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey.

She took to today's Service of Thanksgiving in London to remember the end of the Second World War in Europe and to commemorate those who fought to bring peace to Europe and the rest of the world.

The mother-of-three was accompanied by her husband Prince William, and opted for a striking ensemble today, complete with a black and white polka dot Alessandra Rich dress and a black fascinator by Juliette Botterill.

Kate added a sentimental touch to her outfit by adding a pair of earrings that previously belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. 

The earrings, gifted to Diana before her wedding to the then-Prince Charles in 1981, became Diana's firm favourites and she sported them on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.

Collingwood, a jewellery firm that was a favourite of the Spencer family, presented them to Diana before she became Princess of Wales.

Diana wore them on several occasions throughout her marriage, including during her tour of the US in 1985, where she paired them with a lacy white gown and the Lover's Knot tiara for a gala dinner at the British Embassy.

Diana also sported them with the form-fitting black dress she wore at the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in November 1994 in London, which then later became known as the Revenge Dress.

Kate has donned the earrings as a sweet nod to her late mother-in-law several times, including in her official portrait marking her 40th birthday. 

Elsewhere today, William looked smart in a navy suit with a household decision tie and Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order. He also donned gold jubilee, diamond jubilee, platinum jubilee, and coronation medals. 

It was announced in February that mother-of-three Kate, who has made a gradual return to public duties following cancer treatment, would be attending today.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla led a host of senior royals in London as they commemorated the sacrifices of Second World War veterans and their generation.

They were joined by Prince William, Kate, Prince Edward, Sophie, Princess Anne, Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also present as well as former PMs such as Rishi Sunak, Lord David Cameron and Boris Johnson - but there was unsurprisingly no Prince Harry or Meghan Markle, five years after they stepped down as senior royals.

A handwritten note on a wreath from the Prince and Princess of Wales said: 'For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War, we will remember them.' Another from the King on his wreath stated: 'We will never forget.'

On May 8, 1945 the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI.

After almost six years of fighting against Hitler's Nazi regime peace was declared, although the war against Japan would continue until August 15 that year.

During today's service ten-year-old Alexander Churchill, the great-great-grandson of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, lit a candle of peace as young members of the congregation handed out white roses to Second World War veterans.

The live televised service on BBC One began with a national two-minute silence at 12pm in honour of those who made sacrifices during the conflict, both on the front line and at home, to protect people's freedom and shared values.

Members of the Royal Family began arriving at Westminster Abbey at about 11.50am. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made their way into the historic church, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Also present were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Today's event comes after the Royal Family paid tribute to veterans at a VE Day memorial in London on Monday. 

Kate joined her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they put on a united front following Prince Harry's call for 'reconciliation'. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla also watched the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Mother-of-three Kate was glowing in a berry ensemble, rewearing her beloved Emilia Wickstead pleated coat dress, alongside a matching Sean Barrett pillbox hat with a bow, beige Gianvito Rossi 105 pointed pumps, and earrings. 

She added a gold winged RAF brooch to pay tribute to a deep family connection on her side of the family - her paternal grandfather Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.

While observing the military procession along the Mall, Kate sat with her daughter Princess Charlotte - who recently celebrated her 10th birthday.

She was also seen chatting animatedly with 101-year-old Bernard Morgan, Ambassador for the Royal British Legion, who was the youngest RAF sergeant to land on D-Day.

They were joined by Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, seven, who kept William looking sharp by brushing off his uniform on the specially built dais on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace. 

Discussing the events, a palace aide said: 'The King, Queen and other members of The Royal Family are much looking forward to all the week's VE Day events, when they will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all – and must never be forgotten.' 

Meanwhile, Charles was wearing Naval Uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, as his grandfather King George VI wore on the palace balcony on VE Day in 1945 – while William wore RAF No.1 Uniform. 

Camilla was dressed in a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, the regiment of her late father Major Bruce Shand.

The Duke of Edinburgh wore Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards, while Duke of Kent wore Field Marshal No.2 Service Dress. 

Princess Anne, who was also present, wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) with no decorations.

The late Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the military uniform for her palace balcony appearance on VE Day 1945 as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Services.

Nato allies joined 1,300 members of the armed forces for the procession in the city, and the words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech were spoken by actor Timothy Spall to kick off events for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

In Whitehall, the Cenotaph was draped in a large Union flag, with the south and north face of the landmark covered. It was the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920. 

Crowds started to gather on The Mall on Monday morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a good viewing spot. Caroline Tomlinson, 59, travelled from Doncaster to witness the parade and camped overnight. 

Dressed in Union flags, she said: 'I've been watching lots of footage from 1945 when everybody was gathering outside the palace, so just great to be a part of it here we are again 80 years later to do the very same. I got here at 2pm yesterday afternoon, sat in the red chair all night, had a little bit of sleep.

'I'm used to this, I've been to the other events. I've been to the Platinum Jubilee, the Coronation, the Queen's funeral, Royal weddings. Sleeping over is now my thing. It was very cold but I dressed accordingly and got through it. Slept about three times in one-hour bursts.

'I came here alone, the community is always so lovely. I'm absolutely hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royals.' 

Michael Burn, 67, arrived at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace on Monday morning. Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: 'Obviously I'm very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I'll be here.

'I think we've been very lucky that we've had 80 years of peace and these are very troubled times at the moment and we've got to think about all those that have the ultimate sacrifice and there's very few of them left now because they're all over 100. This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.'

Speaking of his suit and holding a seven foot Union flag he said: 'I bought this for the London 2012 Olympics and have worn it at every Royal event since. 'I can still get into it,' he joked.

Lizzie McCrae MacIntyre, a retired Women's Royal Air Force veteran, arrived at the Admiralty Arch at 4am to see the parade. 

Ms MacIntyre, who travelled from Surrey, said: 'It's so important to remember those that didn't make it home. My dad was military, my brother was Air Force.'

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