Sawt Falasteen - UK kicks off party to mark 80 years since end of WWII

King Charles III saluted as around 1,000 members of the UK armed forces, joined by NATO colleagues from the United States, France and Germany, along with 11 soldiers from Ukraine waving their country's flag reached the end of the procession in front of Buckingham Palace.

Tens of thousands defied the damp weather on the Union Jack-lined Mall to watch the parade, which began with Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech, read by actor Timothy Spall.

"Do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straight forward and die if need be, unconquered," bellowed Spall, standing in front of the wartime UK leader's statue in Parliament Square.

The procession culminated in a fly-past featuring fighter jet display team The Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft, which the 76-year-old monarch watched from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince William and his wife Catherine along with their children George, Charlotte and Louis.

As European countries gear up to celebrate Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, the war in Ukraine is a reminder "that peace is never to be taken for granted", Charles told the Italian parliament last month.

"Today, sadly, the echoes of those times -- which we fervently hoped had been consigned to history -- reverberate across our continent," the king said.

- 'Debt of gratitude' -

It was from the same balcony on May 8, 1945, that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth -- alongside daughters princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, and then-prime minister Churchill -- greeted tens of thousands of Londoners celebrating what Churchill declared the "day of victory in Europe".

That night, the two princesses, then 19 and 14, were allowed to leave the palace and join the jubilant crowds incognito.

Some 40 years later, Elizabeth, by then queen, described the night as "one of the most memorable" of her life.

This year's commemorations will take on extra poignancy given the fading memories of World War II.

Younger generations are increasingly disconnected from the conflict that shook the continent from 1939 to 1945.

"It's important to remember some of the poor devils who didn't make it like I did," 99-year-old Royal Air Force veteran Dennis Bishop told AFP.

The first act on a chilly Monday morning in London was the draping of two huge Union Jack flags on the Cenotaph war memorial.

Hundreds of people set up camp outside Buckingham Palace with chairs and rugs.

"It's so emotional to be here today. Eighty years of peace and peace of mind. Where would we be without them?" asked Patrick Beacon, 76, who arrived with his wife at around 7:00 am (0600 GMT) to get the "best view".

Tourists included 52-year-old Ludivine Batthelot from southern France.

"We came out of curiosity because it's the kind of celebration that the English do so well," she told AFP. "It's folklore, we wanted to be in the mood and live the experience."

- Poppies, pubs and parties -

HMS Belfast -- one of the few surviving British warships from World War II -- which is moored on the banks of the Thames hosted a party.

And people were invited to take part in hundreds of other parties, 1940s dress-up events, picnics, installations and commemorations that take place across the country through the week until VE Day on Thursday.

As part of the festivities Prime Minister St armer hosted a bunting-festooned street party outside his official London residence, serving guests tea.

Other treats on the menu included Victoria sponge cake, scotch eggs and pork pies.

Buckingham Palace also laid on a garden party celebrating veterans and people of the World War II generation.

On Tuesday, Queen Camilla will visit an art installation of around 30,000 ceramic red poppies -- symbols of remembrance for the war dead -- at the iconic Tower of London.

Celebrations will draw to a close on Thursday with a two-minute national silence at government buildings.

The royal family was hoping "nothing will detract or distract" from the celebrations after Prince Harry, Charles's youngest son, gave a bombshell interview on Friday, according to UK media.

Pubs across the country have been allowed to stay open two hours later as part of the celebrations.

N.AbuHussein--SF-PST