The princesses joined the royal family on May 5 to help launch a week of military celebrations.
Just days after celebrating her 10th birthday, Princess Charlotte joined the royal family for a historic celebration at Buckingham Palace.
She was joined by her brothers—11-year-old Prince George and 7-year-old Prince Louis—as well as their parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, to take in a military parade and a patriotic flypast on Monday, May 5.
During the event, Charlotte and Kate shared some sweet mother-daughter moments, their close bond evident throughout the day.
While Kate was spotted leaning down to chat with George and laughing at Louis’ animated reactions to the planes overhead, it was her interactions with Charlotte that brought out the warmest smiles.
As they stepped off the Buckingham Palace balcony, Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte were seen chatting enthusiastically after watching a red, white, and blue flyover by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
In a tender moment, Kate was also photographed gently fixing Charlotte’s hair, which the young princess wore in her signature long braid.
They were joined by the rest of the Wales family, along with other senior royals including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, Sophie—the Duchess of Edinburgh—Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.
The day’s events marked the beginning of a week-long series of commemorations honoring the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, celebrating the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
King Charles, Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sir Timothy Laurence all wore their military uniforms for the occasion, which included meeting with World War II veterans—a meaningful tribute to those who served.
The royal family also marked the moment on their official social media accounts, sharing photos and messages that highlighted the importance of the week’s commemorations.
“We remember and pay tribute to all those who served during the Second World War,” read one post, which included several photos of the royals gathered outside Buckingham Palace. The images showed the King, Queen, and other senior royals joining remarkable veterans from the Royal British Legion at the Queen Victoria Memorial, watching military units march down The Mall.
Another post offered a powerful visual tribute: a side-by-side image comparing the current royal family on the palace balcony with a historic photo from the first VE Day in 1945. That sepia-toned snapshot featured then-Princess Elizabeth in uniform, standing with her father, King George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margaret.
After the festive flypast, the royals made their way back inside the palace. Prince George then joined his parents at a special tea party hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, held in honor of World War II veterans and others from that remarkable generation. It was a notable moment for the young prince, who is second in line to the throne.
The royal family is set to continue their public appearances throughout the week, leading up to the 80th anniversary of VE Day. On May 8, Prince William and Princess Kate are expected to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, which will honor the sacrifices made by the World War II generation.
