LONDON — The streets of the capital are set to pulse with pride and remembrance on May 5, as thousands gather for a grand military procession honoring the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Government plans, freshly unveiled, promise a spectacle that’ll echo the jubilation of 1945, when the guns of World War II fell silent across the continent.
At noon, Big Ben’s chimes will kick things off in Parliament Square, where an actor will belt out Winston Churchill’s iconic VE Day speech, the words that rallied a war-weary nation. From there, a 1,300-strong march of armed forces personnel will snake down Whitehall, boots thumping in unison. The procession, a meticulously choreographed nod to Britain’s wartime grit, will feature young cadets from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force, alongside veterans whose creased faces tell stories no history book could capture.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, will add a clatter of hooves and gleaming brass to the affair, leading the parade with a ceremonial swagger. A standout moment will come when Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, takes the Torch for Peace from a young cadet in a symbolic handoff. Kennett, who marked D-Day’s 80th last year, called it “a huge honour” that stirs memories of mates lost and battles won.
High above, the Red Arrows will roar across London’s skies, trailing red, white, and blue in a flypast joined by aircraft that’ve supported Ukraine’s fight, a subtle nod to today’s struggles. The royals, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, will watch from Buckingham Palace, joined by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. A national service at Westminster Abbey and a Cenotaph ceremony will anchor the day, with the palace balcony set for a royal appearance, mirroring King George VI’s wave in ’45.
For the first time since its 1920 unveiling, the Cenotaph will be draped in Union Flags, a striking tribute to the fallen. Street parties are planned across the city, and a celebration aboard HMS Belfast will cap the festivities, tying the day to Britain’s naval backbone. The government’s laid out a packed schedule, ensuring every detail—from the torch to the flypast—hits hard with meaning.
The procession starts at Parliament Square, moves through Whitehall, and ends at Buckingham Palace. The flypast is slated for mid-afternoon, weather permitting. Local councils expect road closures and packed Tube stations, with crowd estimates in the tens of thousands.