People gather to watch VE Day parade in London

Crowds gathered near Buckingham Palace to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The military parade commemorated Germany’s surrender on May 8, 1945, and honored World War II veterans and fallen soldiers.   Spectators dressed in red, white, and blue attended in large numbers.  Attendees highlighted the importance of being present to experience the atmosphere firsthand.

John Loughrey, royal fan from London said  "We like to get the build up, get a good spot in which we have and we're this, well, this what we're really looking for is the veterans marching down here, and the second world war veterans. Now it's 80 years VD anniversary, going past the King Charles the third and his queen Camilla, and passed all all the people here, and making us very proud. And what they done for us is just incredible. It wasn't for them. We wouldn't be here today."

The parade formed part of wider national observances and reflected on the historical impact of the end of World War II in Europe.