VE Day Parade & Flypast

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

Is anyone watching the VE Day parade?

My goodness, George has really shot up.

William has drawn the short straw and has Louis next to him. He’s been very patient considering he’s just spent the last few minutes tapping his shoulder trying to get his attention whilst William was talking to a veteran 🤣

They look good. Love the colours and overall looks.

Thanks for the heads up 🥰 Gorgeous photos of the tea party.

The Duchess of Gloucester always looks lovely - her style and fashion sense is amazing. Her and her husband are such a hardworking pair.

Actually , I didn't think Sophie's outfit was horrible but I do agree a bold single colour like C or K looked better, against the uniforms S's looked a bit fussy. For a different occasion I think fabulous.

I put Anne to one side here because I think she can wear a uniform brilliantly and she looked fabulous , but amongst the other women on the balcony I thought Camilla absolutely nailed it. But I do think she has got "Queenly dressing" by and large down to a fine art .

I love Birgitte's outfit.

The Royal Family have shared some photos of the day on their social media page, including some balcony photos. Two are close-ups.

I agree. She always looks frumpy. She needs to sack her stylist and get a better hair dresser while she’s at it.

Camilla looked great. She’s really looking good these days.

Why do Anne and Edward wear military uniform when neither served? Seems daft if it’s just for some honorary position.

I don’t think the children would be bored. One of my DCs did a VE project which they absolutely loved. They interviewed our neighbour who had still had his ration book.

How wonderful to see Charles wearing his medals!

Anne was wearing the FANY uniform for two reasons. First because she is the Colonel in Chief of that organisation. Secondly she wore it because it most closely resembles the uniform worn by her own mother on VE Day. Prince Edward is fully entitled to wear uniform as the Colonel in Chief of Scottish regiment. I've seen somewhere today a pair of photos of the balcony of 1945 and that of today. The King is dressed in the same uniform worn by his grandfather George VI in 1964. Lots of symbolism there and it's not by accident.

I thought George had the worst seat at the parade from the point of view of engaging. He wasn't really near any veterans or his parents so had limited chance to talk. It's good he got to attend the tea party.

Prince Edward was in the Marines.

For a hot minute. Didn’t he drop out of the training?

Yes, he's the epitome of a marine🙄

I personally think that the photos of George sat talking to the veterans at the tea party today explain why William need never talk to his brother again. The next in line is shaping up very nicely thank you.

I have a lot of respect for King Charles. A few years ago, when he was still the Prince of Wales, a friend of mine - her child was very seriously ill (terminal) in Great Ormond Street. He held that child’s hand for nearly an hour, and spoke to her. When her little girl passed, my friend received a most magnificent bouquet of white roses from Highgrove, accompanied by a handwritten note ♥️

That's a lovely story. Charles seems to genuinely care about the people he meets.

At least he tried the training and had the guts to realise it was not for him. Being royal, in those days I'm sure they could have found a way to let him graduate but he would then have been a complete liability to his unit. I started the training for a particular job. Soon had that realisation that I wasn't really cut out for it. I had a completely miserable year because I was too afraid of what my family would say if I quit. Thankfully in the end I did leave but managed to get into something much more suitable. I've always preferred people who are prepared to try something to those who are too scared to fail so don't even try.

That’s such a lovely gesture.

I've always admired Prince Philips public show of support by picking him up when he left. Agree it was better he went early than take up a training place that would be better for someone else.

I went into the family business. It really wasn’t for me. I made the best of it but got out after a decent 10 years when another family member joined. If they hadn’t I probably would have stayed. The pressure to go into it was there from the start, I really admire Edward for accepting it wasn’t for him. I didn’t have the guts.

My grandfather, who died in 1961 before I was born, was gassed at the Somme in 1915 and suffered chronic health problems for the rest of his life. During the Depression, there were times when he had no work—he was a carpenter—and the National Assistance Board would come round, inspect all the cupboards, and demand that the family sell chairs and other belongings before offering a penny of help. He never spoke about the war, never attended Armistice Day commemorations or joined the British Legion. He was, in many ways, a broken man for the rest of his life. A country fit for heroes? I think not.

It would have been nice if, over the last thirty/forty years or so, the royals allowed the commanding officers still left alive and had an impact on the actual fighting to occupy the Buckingham Palace balcony. The soldiers who fought would have more of a connection to those WWII veterans instead of a group of upper class people who weren't even there!

Not a bad idea but because of their age when the war started most of the WW2 senior commanders died decades ago (for example Montgomery, 8th Army, etc died in the 1970s)...and I'm not sure they were quite as popular with the rank and file as, for example QEII.

My DH had an uncle who was in the RAF and ended up in Stalag III ( the Great Escape one ) He was a penguin ( ie the ones who disposed of the soil down the sides of their trousers. ) He would never ever speak of what he saw there.

I think it is up to individual veterans to decide what they will speak of , or not. But I hope their stories ( those who will speak) are recorded. I think oral history is important. There will be those who either because of their experience during the war or after it won't and that is their choice. But , for me , I hope the sort of day we have had to day is one of remembrance & gratitude, not glorification.