VE Day latest: Veteran ‘proud’ of Prince George after meeting at Buckingham Palace 80th anniversary reception

A 101-year-old veteran is “proud” of Prince George for taking such an curiosity in his age, the veteran’s daughter has mentioned.

Alfred Littlefield mentioned he was “very glad” that George has taken an curiosity prior to now after he met him at Buckingham Palace, his daughter mentioned.

It got here after the royal household and 1000’s of individuals lining The Mall watched the Crimson Arrows flypast over Buckingham Palace for celebrations marking the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

A veteran who was chilly throughout the VE Day army procession mentioned the King “tucked” her in.

Pleasure Trew, who signed as much as be a part of the conflict effort aged 17 and served within the Ladies’s Auxiliary Air Drive, mentioned Charles had leaned down and tucked her blanket into her wheelchair throughout the parade to stop her from getting chilly.

“He bent down and tucked me in,” she mentioned.

Of the procession, Ms Trew, who grew up in Bristol however now lives in Wells in Somerset, mentioned: “I mentioned to him (the King) a variety of the ladies look formidable and he mentioned ‘sure’”.

The 98-year-old mentioned she mentioned parenting with Charles and informed him she had tried to be a strict mom to her kids.

Sir Keir Starmer has held a VE Day avenue social gathering at Downing Avenue.

The PM, joined by his spouse Woman Starmer, walked out of No 10 holding a plate of desserts, which he then handed out to a few of the visitors.

Sir Keir then picked up a commemorative teapot and walked across the tables to serve tea earlier than taking his seat.

The army at St John’s Ambulance staff could possibly be seen sat at tables exterior No 10 this afternoon.

Earlier, Sir Keir attended a VE Day reception at Buckingham Palace the place he thanked veterans for his or her service to Britain.

Eileen Massett, 93, recalled being evacuated from east London to Wisbech, Norfolk, as a toddler.

“I used to be born in 1932, the conflict broke out in ’39 – I should have been seven. The conflict stopped that, we went to a bit of Catholic faculty, my brother and I,” she mentioned.

“There have been 32 of us sleeping in a two-bedroom bungalow. Once you’re kids you don’t take any discover, it was an journey to us, it was enjoyable.

“We by no means knew we have been all collectively. We had inexperienced and bushes, which we didn’t have in London.

“The nation individuals didn’t need us down there – they threw eggs at us and mentioned ‘soiled Londoners’.”

Conflict survivors, refugees and native households have joined collectively for a VE Day avenue social gathering in one in every of Britain’s most bombed neighbourhoods.

The occasion within the historic Docklands space of east London – one of many places most closely hit throughout the Blitz – was organised by the Bengali Affiliation, native refugee help and different group teams.

The celebration featured Nineteen Forties music and dancing, Morse code demonstrations and meals starting from BBQ favourites to VE Day biryani.

Inside close by St Peter’s Church, guests explored an exhibition of household connections to the conflict, together with a poster created by native refugee Abdul Shakoor concerning the British Indian Military.

One among solely two airworthy Lancasters left on the planet, it was constructed on the Vickers Armstrong Broughton manufacturing unit at Hawarden Airfield, Chester, on Might 31 1945.

The conflict in opposition to Japan ended earlier than it was deployed and it didn’t participate in any hostilities, however it stays an emblem of those that died in service of the nation.

The Voyager, primarily based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, is a modified civilian passenger plane. Able to carrying as much as 291 passengers and cargo all around the world, this Voyager was flown by Flight Lieutenant Jason Alty, Flight Lieutenant Will Ricketts, Flight Lieutenant Andy Theobald and Sergeant Handibode.

The Airbus A400M Atlas army transport plane, a up to date airplane, can carry as much as 37 tonnes and 116 passengers. It was used closely when the UK evacuated civilians from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

The C-17 Globemaster is a long-range plane which might carry heavy hundreds and is utilized in fight in addition to humanitarian missions. It has been used to help operations within the UK and abroad together with offering help to Ukraine and delivering support to the Center East throughout the disaster in Gaza.

Primarily based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, the Poseidon is a maritime patrol plane. It has sensors and weapons for anti-submarine warfare, and will also be utilized in search and rescue efforts. It will possibly detect, establish and monitor targets above and under the waves.

There have been six Typhoons concerned within the flypast, flanking different plane as they flew over London. Typhoons are primarily based completely at RAF Coninsby in Lincolnshire and Lossiemouth, the place they’re prepared to reply to potential threats in UK and Nato air house, the Ministry of Defence mentioned.

An digital surveillance plane, Rivet Joint has sensors which might detect emissions from communications, radar and different methods. It has been used as a part of Operation Shader, the UK’s contribution in ongoing army intervention in Iraq.

Flying on every wing of the Rivet Joint have been F-35B Lightning jets from RAF Marham in Norfolk. The F-35B Lightning is a brief take-off and vertical touchdown plane that may function from plane carriers together with the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class ships.

The Crimson Arrows, formally often called the Royal Air Drive Aerobatic Crew, offered the colorful finale to the flypast. For the reason that Crimson Arrows’ first season in 1965, they’ve carried out nearly 5,000 shows in 57 nations. The Crimson Arrows are led by Crimson 1, Squadron Chief Jon Bond.

The previous frontline Storm pilot, from Essex, joined the RAF in 2006. The 2025 season is his second 12 months as crew chief, accountable for choreographing the brand new show routine, which is seen by hundreds of thousands of individuals at huge occasions and air reveals.

The Prince of Wales informed 101-year-old Alfred Littlefield that his son Prince George is “” in studying about veterans, his granddaughter mentioned.

Samantha Davidson informed PA: “The Prince mentioned George may be very occupied with discovering out concerning the veterans.

“George even requested my grandfather how outdated he was throughout his service.”

She mentioned that Mr Littlefield was very glad that George has taken an curiosity prior to now.

Mr Littlefield mentioned: “I’m very proud.”