London, United Kingdom (AFP) — A military parade and planned balcony appearance by the royal family on Monday kicked off four days of UK celebrations marking 80 years since the end of World War II.

King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and thousands of spectators watched as NATO personnel from the US, France and Germany, along with a small number of Ukrainian troops, joined a military procession that began with Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, voiced by actor Timothy Spall.

“Do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straight forward and die if need be, unconquered,” bellowed Spall, stood by Churchill’s statue in Parliament Square.

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.

Monday’s procession of 1,000 troops was to culminate in a fly past featuring aerobatic team The Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft, which the 76-year-old monarch and other royals will watch from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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.

– Poppies, pubs and parties –

This year’s commemorations will take on extra poignancy given the fading of the “Greatest Generation”.

It will be the last major commemoration for which “anyone will still be alive who actually served in the Second World War,” monarchy specialist Robert Hazell of University College London told AFP.

Buckingham Palace was to host a Monday reception celebrating veterans and people of the WWII generation.

Their numbers are dwindling, leaving younger generations 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 am (0600 GMT) to get the “best view”.

Tourists including 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.”

– ‘Debt of gratitude’ –

Among other events, there was to be a party on HMS Belfast — one of the few surviving British warships from WWII — which is moored on the banks of the Thames.

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.

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.

Charles, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer, will attend a service at Westminster Abbey, followed by a concert at London’s Horse Guards Parade.

The royal family was hoping “nothing will detract or distract” from the celebrations after Prince Harry, Charles’ 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.