Prince William and Kate appear on Buckingham Palace balcony with children

Prince William and Kate Middleton were joined by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Buckingham Palace said King Charles and Queen Camilla  together with members of the Royal Family attended events on anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.

The Kensington Palace, the office of the Prince and the Princess of Wales, separately shared photos of William and Kate with their children as they gathered outside the palace.

The royal family joined veterans and crowds to watch a grand military parade and flypast at the start of four days of commemorations.

The government has planned a series of events in the run-up to the anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender that took effect on May 8, 1945. It is observed around that date in many countries, including France, the United States and Russia.

More than 1,300 members of Britain's armed forces marched through central London from outside parliament to Buckingham Palace, watched by the king, who offered a salute as they passed, alongside Queen Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and veterans of the conflict.

Monday's parade concluded with a flypast by historic military aircraft and the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows display team, watched by the royals from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as crowds, many of them carrying national flags - the red, white and blue Union Jack - flocked below to take in the spectacle.

The royals, who waved to the onlookers gathered outside, were also due to host about 50 veterans and others who lived through the war for a tea party inside the palace.