VE Day: King Charles to lead 80th anniversary celebrations with military parade and flypast – latest updates

Today marks exactly 80 years since Winston Churchill announced the end of the Second World War and victory in Europe.

It is the first of four days of celebrations to mark the milestone.

Here are the events scheduled for today:

12.00pm: Timothy Spall recites Winston Churchill’s famous VE Day Speech as Big Ben strikes at midday.

12.10pm: The military procession begins as bands and units make their way from Parliament Square to Big Ben

1.45pm: A flypast featuring 23 aircraft from the past and present, including the iconic Red Arrows

Later in the afternoon: The King and Queen will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the UK’s 80th anniversary VE Day celebrations which start today.

Over the next four days a host of commemorative events will take place across the country to mark Victory in Europe day on May 8, 1945.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Bank Holiday Monday for events and take in the military procession and a flypast.

The words of Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, spoken by actor Timothy Spall, will begin the commemorations, which will feature displays by the Red Arrows, appearances by senior royals and street parties across the UK.

Stick with us for the latest updates throughout the day plus the most eye-catching pictures and videos of celebrations across the country.