Four days of events will take place across the UK to mark 80 years since VE Day and the Royal Family is expected to play an integral part in them.

Commemorations and community get togethers will happen in May and again in August when the anniversary of VJ Day is marked.

At the very start of those events, the Cenotaph will be draped in Union flags, as it was on the day it was officially unveiled by King George V in 1920.

As the commemorations begin, a military parade will take place, starting at Whitehall and ending at Buckingham Palace. It is expected that the Royal Family will be involved in this event. A flypast of past and present aircraft will also happen.

This first day of events, May 5, will also see street parties across the UK. A major celebration will take place on HMS Belfast, docked on the River Thames, again with high anticipation of a royal guest or two beneath the bunting.

The street parties will be supported by ideas from The Together Coalition and The Big Lunch – the latter counts Queen Camilla as its patron and has been heavily involved in community celebrations for the Coronation and the Platinum Jubilee.

The lives of all those lost will be remembered at a special ceremony on May 6 when the Tower of London will once again be filled with poppies. The ceramic flowers will return to the Tower where 30,000 of them will form a special installation commemorating those who died for their country.

That evening, the Tower and buildings around the country will be lit up as a sign of remembrance.

A Victory in Europe Anniversary concert is set for May 7 at Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster.

On May 8, the actual anniversary of VE Day, there will be a service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey. It will also recall the celebrations that came at the close of World War Two.

The final act of this four day event will be a special concert at Horseguards Parade featuring stars of stage and screen and military musicians. The performance will tell the story of victory and the legacy of the Second World War in Europe.

Victory in Europe, on May 8 1945, was the end of World War Two on the continent. Victory in Japan Day, on August 15 1945, brought the global conflict to a close.

On August 15th 2025, a service will take place at the National Arboretum where the Royal British Legion will help lead commemorations.