Here are photos of the military procession for 80th anniversary of VE Day in London today. VE Day is on May 8th, but I assume they decided to schedule this parade/procession on Cinco de Mayo because it was already a “bank holiday” in the UK. There will also be events on Thursday, the actual anniversary of VE Day, and King Charles and Camilla have planned other appearances today and throughout the week. Appearances which should not be overshadowed by Prince Harry, if only Buckingham Palace could stop throwing tantrums about Harry.
Prince William and Kate came out for the procession, and they brought their kids too. The three kids have not been out and about together since Christmas Day, although Prince George has been seen at some football matches with his dad. Louis and Charlotte just celebrated their birthdays and we got new photos of them too. George’s birthday is in July! We’ll also see the kids next month for Trooping the Colour, I guarantee. I also think the placement of the Wales fam is interesting – the kids seated in between their parents, but not in line-of-succession order.
The Princess of Wales wore (rewore) an Emilia Wickstead coatdress. Hello Mag pointed out that this is the exact same outfit and Sean Barrett hat which she wore in 2022 for the greeting of South Africa’s President Ramaphosa. I double-checked… it is indeed the same outfit. She really doesn’t have much of a clothing budget these days.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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- Military Parade to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Featuring: Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Catherine, Princess of Wales, William Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 May 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- Military Parade to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis, William Prince of Wales and Queen Camilla with veterans Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 May 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- Military Parade to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Featuring: Queen Camilla with veteran Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 May 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- Military Parade to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Featuring: William Prince of Wales, Prince Louis Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 May 2025 Credit: Cover Images
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- Military Parade to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales with veteran Where: London, United Kingdom When: 05 May 2025 Credit: Cover Images
Kate needs a haircut. William all decked out in medals. What a disgrace.
I find it so insulting that they wear their unearned medals at events like this, surrounded by “real” veterans who served in WWII.
There’s really no shame there. It’s an astounding sense of an entitlement, as in of course I can wear all these unearned medals. But I guess they see themselves as having earned them…just bc they’re royal?
Same! I’d be mortified wearing fake medals in the presence of actual veterans. But the royals have zero shame.
My first thought too.
Kate doesn’t need a haircut.
She just needs to leave most of the bundles at home.
Agree
Hair to her waist is like she, at 43, is competing with her 10 year old daughter. It isn’t smart, it isn’t professional. Keep the extensions for weekends.
Imagine if Princess Anne started wearing her hair down on official engagements!
@Tessa: I agree. Her hair is too long now and does nothing for her.
its a pity the only 2 royals who deserve to wear medals, and represented this Country in wars were not part of it. Could it be that William , Edward and the King would feel like frauds jingling the medals they have not earned. A total disgrace to the veterans that had genuine medals
I don’t think it’s “a pity” that Andrew was “not a part of it.”
Kate looks… refreshed. I can’t always tell if it’s Botox and fillers or mad airbrushing and photoshopping. Or both.
In her face maybe, although I can’t see it. What I have noticed is that she looks thinner, if that’s possible.
Emaciated.
Yup. She looks gaunt.
You can still see the newish dent above her eye.
Came here to say the same – she looks very very thin. I will try to say something nice – that is a very nice colour she’s wearing… that’s all I’ve got…
She is disappearing, and it’s alarming.
She looks gaunt and frail. Girl has no stylist/doesnt want to see anybody for new clothes, which explains why she rewears stuff, which explains why they also don’t want to ID her clothes and which also explains why she wore the boy cap that still haunts me and the horrible brown jeggings of the other day. I mean, really? The stylist told you to wear that? I think she’s paying CarolE and possibly her brother James Middleton to play stylists so she can get them on the payroll and transfer some cash over to the middleton side.
The boy cap is obviously james middleton’s idea or Kate copying James wife’s style, cuz alizee wore a a boy cap somewhere after having the baby
Gotta love Louis! 😂
@Blogger … I was wondering if anyone would mention the effort Louis is displaying in pulling on William’s gold uniform braids (hard enough to move his father’s jacket). And the look on his face while tugging is priceless 🙂
He’s probably thinking, “Might as well, they are going to call me the cheeky one no matter what I do.”
What would be super interesting to know would be if the kids were always scheduled to appear or if this was a last minute add to distract from Harry’s interview.
I suspect that it is very much the latter. They needed to give the press something else to talk about. It won’t last long, but at least they tried. Bless.
Also, I think it is an attempt to “compete” (one-sidedly as always) after M posted that poignant and pointed photo of Prince Harry and A and L. They’re not even subtle.
Agree. If it were them two only, there’d be so much scrutiny over their body language with Willy his ham-fisted usual self. At least Willy has Louis this time. He does seem more relaxed with his kids around.
It was confirmed 2-3 weeks ago that the entire Wales family would be attending.
That’s an interesting question because I could see how they felt this was important for them to be a part of, but I think it’s also to prevent questions being asked and protests. People still seem to give them a wide berth when the kids are with them. And they continue to serve as a good buffer between William and Kate.
Also could be a weird f you to Harry to have William’s three kids there right after he said he couldn’t see a world where his kids could come to the UK.
She has such bad posture
Both of them do. They need to take up yoga and Pilates.
The last time they all were together watching a parade was during the queen’s jubbly right? And that was the infamous scene with Louis putting his hand over his mom’s mouth and cocking a snook(think that’s what it’s called?). So here, Louis is being sat by his dad this time.
Ummm! Apparently the Americans call it a five fingered salute, I had heard the expression and knew the gesture was rude, but I hadn’t put the two of them together.
The lone Black man in the back his covering his eyes as if SO MUCH whiteness is blinding him 😄
That’s in really poor taste, 2131Jan. There are some of the last remaining WWII veterans in that picture. Your comment isn’t funny. It’s one thing to mock those who deserve it, it’s another thing to disparage people who have done more than earned the respect afforded to them.
@Fawzia:
I don’t think @2131Jan is disrespecting the veterans present on the dais.
I think she’s pointing out that the “royal” family is blindingly white, since they drove out the beautiful, talented woman of color who was brave enough to step up to join them for the sake of the man she loves.
Personally, I think that man in the back is rubbing his eyes because they’re burning — from the stench of hypocrisy rising from every “royal” on stage over the age of twelve.
He may be overcome with grief. I cry on EVERY Remembrance Day thinking of my father who served as a bomber pilot in the RCAF in North Africa, got shot down, and almost picked up by the Germans. It’s a very emotional time for veterans and their families.
@Jaded:
Is your dad gone now? If not, please thank him from me for his service.
If he is, may his memory be for a blessing, for you and for all who love him.
I lost family members on both sides of my family in WWII: my Dad lost a beloved uncle who was shot down in combat, and Dad mourned him til the end of his own life. On my mother’s side, we lost multiple family members in concentration camps, and some others who just disappeared, their fates never known.
I watch what’s happening now with US foreign “policy” with real fear: if Felon47 succeeds in taking us back to pre-war isolationism it will be a disaster for us.
He thinks it will be a disaster for the rest of the world and they’ll knuckle under and give him any concessions he wants. Instead the rest of the world will band together and leave us out in the cold.
@IdlesAtCranky — Dad passed in 2003 at 89, but I will still pass on your gratitude to him! The loss of your family members is devastating, us “olders” have all been touched one way or another by WWII and dread what could happen with the Orange Felon in charge. This is another “war” that democracy must fight hard to win.
Louis is a cutie. My comment was more about the fact that they made a choice to sit him next to his dad and not his mom bc they didn’t want any kind of a photo repeat. Normally George would be next to his dad but in this case George was in the middle, maybe to make him the focus? Idk and I just think it’s interesting bc you know they’re thinking about every little detail of the presentation. As ever, wish those kids well.
As ever!
Louis is making his thoughts known lol. The happy family looks like they would rather be on vacation instead of doing their duty. The children don’t look so happy and Louis well he is being himself ( hey dad what’s the gold rope thing you are wearing? Can I play with it?) poor guy.
I’m sure they were promised another holiday after this event.
May midterms are coming up at the end of May. Looks like the lazy parents operate like teachers and will get another vacation.
They can’t draw a crowd. Not good.
They sure can’t and I love that for them.
Was just looking at the Balcony pics and imagining what it will look like when William is King. I know we have discussed before.. but it will be a very lonely looking balcony before too long..
Everyone on that balcony looked tense except for the kids. A family that can put one of its own in harm’s way is not a very close family. And you can feel that when you look at them on the balcony together. Cold and uncomfortable rather than uplifting that’s for sure.
I thought George looked very tense and unhappy.
There were a few moments where he was talking about and motioning towards the planes with his brother and sister and seemed into it. Just saying that I don’t think they appeared anywhere near as tense as the adults up there.
@chaine – poor George usually looks tense & unhappy…
The extended Middleton clan will make up the numbers.
Fewer and fewer of them, yet their cost of maintenance goes up and up. What is it now, after this latest raise, half a BILLION pounds a year? For doing less and less each year?? Paid to billion/multi-milionaires who CHARGE THE TAXPAYERS for use of duchy lands on top of that???
Insanity rules #abolish the monarch. It’s dead. Time to call time of death already.
That’s the real secret about the “slimmed-down” monarchy. It has nothing to do with slimming down costs. In fact, it costs the public more for less.
The Swedish royal house cost is 15 million dollars a year as a reference.. that includes staff etc.
Kate looks bitter and sour. Good.
Willy should be embarrassed to strut around in that uniform costume and fake medals. In front of real soldiers too.
Dragging the kids out once again to distract. They’re so pathetic.
May 5th marks the surrender of the German forces in large parts of Europe. It was broadcast in the evening on May 4th by enacted on May 5th. The unconditional surrender of all German forces was on May 8th but the end of WWII is celebrated on May 5th in Europe because that is when hostilities ended.
Yes, in my country, the Netherlands, Liberation Day is celebrated today. Yesterday was a day of remembrance for the fallen.
I know this is a gossip blog but suggesting that the commemoration of the end of WWII in Europe has been scheduled on this day because of “reasons” feels slightly disrespectful to this European reader. It would be very easy to find out why the end of WWII is celebrated on May 5th in Europe rather than VE day on May 8th.
It is an important date for many here. My father grew up during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. He was old enough to have distinct memories of the Liberation. Both the evening of Liberation on May 4th which is celebrated with putting candles in our windows and the formal date of May 5th. He remembered the euphoria of the evening when the radio broadcast the Liberation message, how people crowded out into the street with sheer joy. And he remembered the joyous reception of the British troops in the streets of Copenhagen.
@ArtHistorian – The country of my birth is actually the UK and I think we can all agree that the end of WWII in Europe occurred on 8th May 1945. My adopted country, the Netherlands, celebrates on 5th May because that’s the date the Germans were finally defeated in the Netherlands. France was liberated earlier, bit by bit, starting in mid-1944. I think the UK is celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII by having several days of celebrations, culminating in the actual VE Day on 8th May. Today, 5th May, coincides with the annual “May Day” bank holiday (which is always on a Monday) in the UK meaning most of the population is off work and able to enjoy the start of the celebrations. Those are the only “reasons” I can think of. A point of interest is that in The Netherlands we only get the Liberation Day holiday every five years – years ending in a 0 or a 5 – so today is a public holiday here as well.
Louis is 7 now and still cutting up at public events and George and Charlotte look dour and tense. It gives William and Kate have not prepared their kids for the BRF life, unlike other royal families. Had Archie or Lili misbehaved at an event like this Harry and Meghan would have been called unfit parents (and they still are).
Honestly I’d be more concerned if their kids were perfectly behaved and had all the youthful wiggles and giggles somehow royaled out of them. If they are raised as children 1st and royals a distant 2nd, I’m ok with that.
@aquarius – agree with you re Louis. I suspect he was placed next to William to avoid another hand over mouth incident with Kate. He was also mocking George who was nervously smoothing his hair. I get that he’s a kid and some people find his behaviour cute or “just being a kid” but it happens consistently enough that I just find it annoyingly bratty.
Those children all look tense and unhappy
I think this is the most tense I’ve seen them all together as a family. They all look so miserable. Even the antics Louis normally does look forced and from a source of pain. George looked a lot happier once he was on the balcony and the flyover started, which was nice to see.
As for William and Kate… well there’s certainly no love lost between them. They hardly spoke two words to each other on the balcony. Choose freedom, folks.
Sophie’s gingham check coat is so inappropriate for this occasion. It’s not a freaking garden party.
But it’s not as inappropriate as Edward, who dropped out of military training, wearing a uniform with fake medals. The stolen valor on display was appalling.
There’s something wrong with Louis.
So what? Maybe he has ADHD. Maybe he’s on the spectrum. Maybe dad always has George, and mom always has Charlotte, and George gets the nanny. Maybe he just shares too many genes with Andrew. Maybe the home environment is very permissive with him. Maybe it’s some combination of all of the above. What does it matter? He’s still just a kid. And growing up in that toxic institution.
ADHD is hereditary, and I’ve long thought that Kate has it, although undiagnosed. It often shows up in oldest daughters like she is – able to focus on school, do well, and then hyperfocus on something, in her case snagging William and working out.
I think Louis has it, too, albeit in the more traditional sense (can’t sit still, etc). It’s not a stigma in the States because parents and teachers here are well equipped now to help the children.
Is William wearing an Air Force uniform? Didn’t he actually serve in the Air Force for a bit? Don’t know what rank he’s displaying though. Seemed like a pretty “quiet” uniform for the occasion. If William is wearing the rank in which he served, I think that would be quite respectful for the occasion.
william had “stints” in all branches of the military, as future King. He never served on the front lines.
Yes, he was a casual soldier, committed to the pomp and ceremony on occasion. Unlike Harry!
I’ve always doubted Kaiser’s belief that Kate’s clothing budget was cut. But after seeing her in this outfit and I’m coming around to Kaiser’s view on this.
Kate had one job: erasing meghan by looking like her. Now that she could not even manage that they cut her budget.
Kate has a decade plus of outfits to pull from her tenure in the royal family. Even if her clothing budget has been slashed, she has soooo many things to pick from, including outfits I’m sure we’ve never seen. So I feel zero sympathy there.
It might just be the limited photos but none of them look happy here. Louis is pulling on the gold thread of his dad’s uniform probably in an effort to get his attention. There are other photos from the event including when they are standing on the palace balcony and Louis is easily the most animated one in the whole family. I do wonder if the kids were meant to attend? It almost seems like they were brought out to “compete” and try to drown out the fallout from Harry’s BBC interview after he lost his appeal for his security issues to be reviewed by the courts.
She hasn’t got them any more, according to rumour. She’s been selling her clothing and jewelry off for years to get money for who knows what – to help her parents maintain their upper-middle class farce?
She has one wardrobe left, it seems, and nothing is new. Presumably why sources briefed so aggressively that we are not to discuss her clothing labels anymore. Haven’t seen the likes of Kiki McDonough in over a decade, not to mention the countless bespoke McQueens. I imagine there were things in her closet that were never shown to the public with a price tag that could make your eyes water.
The interviews about VE Day with those who remembered 1945 were much more interesting than anything happening on that balcony.
The trademarked Daily Mail term for any of W&K’s offspring is ‘adorable’. I think that’s more appropriate for babies and baby animals but they don’t seem to have a thesaurus.
The photos in the DM are sooooo heavily filtered and edited. I wonder how Kate actually looked in real life today that they had to add crazy filters to the pictures to make her look decent. Is her coloring off or something?
Kate’s hair is wretched looking. It’s way too long and grosses me out.
Those veteran heroes deserve better than sitting with these aholes.
I have no problem with long hair on middle-aged or older women, I wear it long myself & I’m 20 years older than Bone Idle.
IMO, her problem is the styling. When she’s in casual clothes, it would be fine to wear it down but it usually looks unhealthy and not well groomed. It should be brushed, shining, and caught back from her face so it doesn’t get messy in the first gentle breeze.
And she looks like she’s trying to cosplay a 12 year old girl when she wears it down her back in curls while in formal clothing and a hat.
There are so many elevated, elegant ways to style long hair for formal occasions, and she used to do better with that. A modified Gibson Girl would look good with a hat and likely offset how thin she is, at least somewhat.
Just a simple low bun or a braided bun or even a standard chignon would all be miles better than the Yards O’Curls she seems to have stapled to her head!
🎯 🎯 🎯
My hair is a little tiny bit shorter than Kate’s and also all natural, but I would never go to an event like this with hair that looks like Kate. She looks like she slept in sponge rollers, pulled her hair half up, and plopped on that hat.
There is SO MUCH MORE she could do – and you’re right that she used to do this a lot better.
I also didn’t think the budget had been slashed, but this feels very “diy hair” – is the hair dresser also slashed??
This little boy seems so dark and constantly angry. He doesn’t seem OK to me and I feel very sorry for him. I wouldn’t wish such a family background on any child. He’s clearly not coping well with this presentation. Nevertheless, he is dragged into the public eye again and again and is paraded in front of them. It’s just awful.
Louis Mountbatten Windsor is named after Lord Louis Mountbatten who was a proiific child abuser. Viceroy to the India when Partition took place and which now responsible for the current Modi abuses in India and the Pakistan/Bangladesh and India problems.
Who would name an innocent child after such a man?
For certain if Charles had married Mountbatten’s daughter, who was also Charles’ cousin. The first son would be called Louis.
I accidentally came across some photos of this event where they were all sitting at tables with the extremely elderly vets .
It showed William and Kate encouraging George to interact with the vets and he actually looked happy and engaged .
So different than the serious, tense photos you normally see .
He is actually a handsome little boy who it seems will never have a normal childhood .
They are training him early , that’s for sure .
Charlotte interacted with vets as well
All the royal adults–TRASH CANS! Dragging their kids out to distract from the Harry interview! It’ll be the Louie interview in about 30! Years. History repeating itself is their jam!
Charles’s parents both served, Camilla’s father was a POW, William and Harry’s grandfather Earl Spencer landed in France on 6/7 and Kate’s paternal grandmother was a VAD nurse and also worked at Bletchley Park. I think a social media shoutout on any of their accounts would’ve been a nice commemoration. A personalization of the shared sacrifice sentiment.
I felt for the elderly Duke of Kent whose father died in a wartime crash.
His siblings Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael also lost their father in the war. Prince Michael was very young when his father died.
All they have now is wars that happed decades ago to give them any relevance. What are they doing now for their military and the world? i.e Invictus. Betterup. Travalest. world hunger social media etc etc etc…
No one I know watched any of this coverage and some were actually in the forces or retired from them.
They did watch Harry’s interview!
I like what Kate, Queen and Sophie wore. They did not need to bring the children.
I agree. It was not an event like the Jubilee where the children went to some of the events. Including the Tindalls and Philllips.
Edward is looking…..concerning at this point. Seriously, is he ok?