Kate Middleton and Prince William Join King Charles and Queen Camilla for Special VE Day 80th Anniversary

Kate Middleton and Prince William joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in commemorating the sacrifices of the greatest generation.

Members of the British royal family marked the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II on May 8 at a Service of Thanksgiving held at Westminster Abbey in London. The event, which took place exactly 80 years after the war was declared over, commemorated the fallen and those who fought and survived the six-year conflict.

Also among the royals in attendance – and arriving ahead of Charles and Camilla, William and Kate – were the King’s brother Prince Edward, his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the King’s sister Princess Anne, Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Taking their steps into the Abbey, the sun shining on William’s medals, Kate – in a white dress decorated with black polka dots – were greeted by the clergy, led by Rev. Dr. David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster. The King and Queen were heralded with a royal fanfare as they stepped through the West Door of the Abbey moments later.

The service began moments after 12 p.m. local time, when the chimes of Big Ben, nearby, sounded and the royal family joined the 1,800-strong congregation in a national two-minute silence to reflect on and remember the sacrifices and heroism of the armed forces and stoicism of ordinary people during the war. During the solemn moments, Princess Kate, 43, and Queen Camilla, 77, stood alongside the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, while King Charles, 76, and Prince William, 42, stood at its head, a few paces away.

Soon afterward, Charles, followed by William, laid wreaths at the Grave, which is a few yards inside the main West Door of the Abbey. Led by the clergy, the four royals then took part in a procession down the aisle of the Abbey.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer gave a reading during the service.

The church in the heart of London is the place chosen for national celebrations and remembrances. It was where Prince William and Princess Kate wed 14 years ago and where the funeral of  Queen Elizabeth took place in September 2022. It is also the venue for Kate’s annual carol service, which has become a fixture in the royal calendar.

After the ceremony, King Charles and Queen Camilla met some of the veterans in the congregation. The visit ended with Queen Camilla leading some of the royal family in laying flowers at the Innocent Victims’ Memorial by the Abbey’s West Door.

The service was a spiritual high point in the week of commemorations. They started on Monday, May 5, with a military parade and a spectacular flypast over Buckingham Palace, watched by William and Kate with their three children: Prince George, 11,  Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. Later that day, in a surprise, George joined the King and his parents who were attending a tea party for around 50 veterans of World War II at the palace.

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On May 6, Queen Camilla visited the magnificent display of bright red ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.

Later on May 8, a special concert — featuring singer Freya Ridings, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Calum Scott, rock band The Darkness, Toploader and singer Tom Walker, is set to take place at Horse Guards Parade. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be guests of honor at the celebration, which will also feature a favorite of Camilla’s: a performance starring the professionals from Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s version of Dancing with the Stars.