Just a few days after celebrating her 10th birthday, Princess Charlotte joined the royal family for historic festivities at Buckingham Palace.
The young princess and her brothers, Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 7, joined their parents, Prince William and Kate Middleton, to watch a military procession and a patriotic flypast on Monday, May 5.
Charlotte and Kate shared a heartwarming display of mother-daughter bonding during the outing, their closeness shining through as they marked the milestone together.
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While Princess Kate was seen leaning down to speak with George and laughing at Louis’ comical reactions to the planes, it was her shared moments with Charlotte that sparked the biggest smiles.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte watch the Red Arrows flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony on May 5, 2025. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty
The mother-daughter duo spoke animatedly as they exited the Buckingham Palace balcony after observing the red, white and blue flyover by the Royal Air Force’s Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows.
Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton at VE Day Celebration on May 5, 2025.Neil Mockford/GC Images
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The Princess of Wales was also photographed reaching out to readjust Charlotte’s hair, which she wore with her favored long braid.
Along with the Wales family, other royals in attendance included 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 displays kicked off a week of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8, marking the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe in 1945.
The King, Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sir Timothy Laurence all wore military dress for the event, during which they also met with World War II veterans. The royal family’s official social media account shared several posts commemorating the occasion and emphasizing the significance of the week’s festivities.
“We remember and pay tribute to all those who served during the Second World War,” read one post, which included multiple pictures of the royal family. “The King and Queen, alongside other Members of the Royal Family, joined extraordinary veterans (@RoyalBritishLegion) on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace to observe military units processing down The Mall.”
Another tribute featured a side-by-side picture of the current royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, alongside a flashback to the first VE Day, in 1945.
In the sepia-toned photo stands then-Princess Elizabeth in her own military uniform, with her father, King George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margaret.
Following festive flypast, the royals retreated back into the palace. Prince George joined his parents for a tea party hosted by the King and Queen for veterans and members of the World War II generation. As second in line to the throne, it was a big move for the young royal.
The royal family will be out and about for a series of meaningful events throughout the week, leading up to the 80th anniversary of VE Day. On May 8, William and Kate are expected at a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey highlighting the sacrifice of the World War II generation.
