Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

Eighty years ago this week, Prime Minister Winston Churchill encouraged the country to "rejoice" as he declared the war in Europe at an end.

Today, actor Timothy Spall repeated the war leader's words, as crowds of military personnel gathered on Parliament Square to commemorate VE Day 80.

Their subsequent march to the Mall - where they were saluted by King Charles and other Royal Family members and veterans - kicked off four days of events across the UK.

Brits even braved the slightly disappointing weather in some parts of the country, which failed to put a stop to bunting-clad tea parties - even Downing Street took part.

A Red Arrows flypast was the headline of today's festivities, but there's more to look forward to over the rest of the week.

Thursday - the anniversary of Churchill's declaration - will see members of the Royal Family attend a thanksgiving service at Westminster.

Then in the evening, it'll be time for a live celebratory concert at Horse Guards Parade to conclude the festivities.

Until then, you can have a read of our news story to see how it all unfolded today.

As we've mentioned, celebrations will continue until VE Day, which is on Thursday this week. Here's a guide to all the major events:

Tuesday

• The Tower of London opens an art installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies. The exhibition runs until Armistice Day on 11 November

Wednesday

• The Parliament Choir hosts an anniversary concert at the Palace of Westminster, external, marking the moment when a newsflash announced 8 May 1945 as VE Day
• The IWM North war museum in Manchester is hosting Letters to Loved Ones, external, a performance about personal stories of the conflict and how people understand the war today

Thursday

• Commemorations include a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey and VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, an evening concert at Horse Guards Parade
• At the Royal Albert Hall, VE Day 80: The Party, external features the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

Elsewhere, celebrations are planned across the country. Check your local council website or ve-vjday80.gov.uk, external for events.

The BBC will cover major events online, on TV and radio. Follow along with us.

Kris Bramwell
Your Voice Your BBC News

Image source, Sam Bawden

Sam Bawden has been enjoying a VE Day celebration at her parent’s house in Newent, Gloucestershire.

Mary 84, and Barrie Freeman, 87, threw a party for 25 friends in their barn and the gathered guests have been browsing some old newspapers from around the time of VE Day which Mary found in the loft.

Sam says: "They are very patriotic my parents."

Sam has sent us some of the newspapers the party are browsing - take a look at a couple below:

Image source, Sam Bawden

Image source, Sam Bawden

Kris Bramwell
Your Voice, Your BBC News

Image source, Tracey Smith

This display was put together by Roade Yarn Bombers in the village of Roade Northamptonshire.

Tracey Smith tells the BBC: "We are a group of local people who meet on Monday evenings in the local pub.

"This has been created with love by many. I hope you like our creation."

Ashitha Nagesh
Reporting from The Mall

Earlier I spoke with Lt Col Charles Foinette and he has been telling me about this 80th anniversary and describing it as "particularly poignant".

"We are concerned in the Armed Forces with the here and now, where the world is heading and what the threats might be to our peace," he says.

"But of course everything we have, everything we do, is built on the people who came before us.

"I mean, 80 is one of those big numbers and I think we're all very well aware that the generation that served at that time and lived through it is fast fading into history.

"This is probably the last time that significant numbers of veterans will be available and able to come and participate in commemorations, and I think it’s important to recognise what they did and what they left us."

The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows headlined today's flypast, wowing crowds on the Mall with their red, white and blue vapour trails.

As the Royal Family and spectators looked to the skies, they might have wondered what it's like to be on board one of the famous jets.

It's now a little easier to find out, as the immersive footage below shows a view of London from the cockpit of the planes.

To look around, use your fingers to move the view on your phone. Or on a computer, use your mouse, track pad or arrow buttons.

If you are watching on the BBC News app, click here for the best experience.

360° filming courtesy of the Royal Air Force.

Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Image source, Royal British Legion

At the BBC, we've been collecting first-hand accounts of those who lived through and experienced World War Two as it came to an end in 1945.

Earlier we heard from Ada, from Bangor in Wales, who joined the women's branch of the Army when she was only 17 years old. She followed VE Day celebrations from Northern Ireland and recounted "jubilation" in all parts of the UK.

Ruth Bourne, 98, who worked at Eastcote as an operator of a wartime code-breaking machine also shared her memories of VE Day celebrations, saying "people climbed on every available lamppost".

On the day Britain declared victory in Europe, Bernard Morgan, of Crewe, was stationed in Germany. He was one of a few people who had prior warning to the war coming to an end, as he worked for the intelligence unit.

"On 6 May 1945 we were told not to advise anybody that the war would be over," he recalls.

• For more remarkable accounts - from veterans' stories, to women at war - have a look at the BBC's We Were There project

The Royal Family were at the heart of today's commemorations to mark 80 years since the end of World War Two in Europe.

Prince Louis helped keep his father, Prince William, looking smart for the procession, while the King encouraged his family to wave to onlooking crowds from the balcony.

Watch back some of the moments you might have missed.

More pictures now from the tea party being held at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

In one, World War Two veteran Norman Brown shows a magic trick to the Queen while sitting at the dining table.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Joy Trew, a 98-year-old veteran, says King Charles tucked her blanket into her wheelchair during the VE Day parade to stop her getting cold.

Joy, who joined the war effort at 17 and served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, was sitting next to the King during the procession.

"I said to him a lot of the women look formidable and he said 'yes"'," Trew tells PA news agency, adding that they spoke about parenting.

Image source, BBC/Peter Davies

You've been sending us the scenes from your street parties around the country, where roads have been pedestrianised in favour of tables full of cake and drinks.

One scene has reached us from Midhurst in West Sussex, where Peter Davies and his neighbours have been hard at work to gather members of the community together.

Contributing to the atmosphere of celebration are balloons, bunting, and a bean bag toss game, followed by a community lunch.

Image source, BBC/Peter Davies

Image source, BBC/Peter Davies

Image source, Reuters

Also forming part of the VE Day commemorations is a display at the Tower of London.

It's made up of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies - originally featured in Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, an artwork created to mark the centenary of WW1 and included 888,246 poppies at the castle.

The poppies are positioned to resemble a wound at the heart of the Tower, which was itself bombed during the Blitz.

The exhibition opens tomorrow, and visitors can see it with a general admission ticket to the Tower, although a small part is visible from the public footpath.

The exhibition runs until Armistice Day on 11 November.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Ruth Klauber, aged 101, was born in Germany, but left the country with her family when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933.

When war broke out six years later, she found herself enlisting with the Royal Air Force in the fight against Nazi Germany.

"I felt that I'd better be a flight mechanic, although I had no idea what a spanner was in those days," she laughs.

"I did airframes, not engines," she explains. "It was an amazing life really... There weren't that many women doing this, at least not on my station."

After watching the Lancaster bomber begin the flypast today, Klauber tells the BBC, "it was all a very long time ago, but memories do come back." But, she adds that there is a "sad memory" associated with the noise as a friend who piloted Lancaster bombers lost his life in the war.

Klauber was just recently awarded two medals for her service, which she proudly wears on her lapel despite not applying for them initially.

Image source, PA Media

While all these events have been going on, the Royal Family have been hosting their own tea party at Buckingham Palace.

Around 50 veterans, their families and other members of the wartime generation have been invited along.

We've just received these pictures from the event that we can share with you now.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, street parties are happening around the country, and the PM is hosting one in Downing Street.

If you're planning an event in the next few days to join in the celebrations, you'll likely be thinking about which dishes to whip up and deciding on the drinks you'll be toasting with.

Our colleagues from BBC Food have created a guide on how to throw a street party and have provided all the last-minute inspiration you may need.

• Here is everything you need to know about how to throw a street party

Image source, PA Media

As we mentioned just now, Downing Street, like other streets across the country, has become the venue for a VE Day tea party.

Here's a quick glance how it's looking, as guests enjoy Victoria sponge and musical performances of tunes from the times.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Pool

After attending the military procession and flypast earlier today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is turning his hand to host, as guests arrive at Downing Street for a VE Day street party.

Long tables have been set up outside Number 10, with Victoria sponge cake, scotch eggs and pork pies on the menu for guests.

As is tradition, bunting has been hung out, and each seat has been given a commemorative plate and mug with the words VE Day 80 written on them.

Spotted among the guests so far is comedian Al Murray, and Second World War veterans are also expected to be in attendance.

Nick Johnson
Reporting from HMS Belfast

All of us onboard HMS Belfast were urged to put our earplugs in as a public address system announced the ship's guns were about to be fired.

In turn, the 6 inch, 4 inch and anti-aircraft guns were fired. No shells were used, this was a pyrotechnic re-enactment. Nevertheless, the booms reverberated around the Thames.

These guns crucial in softening the German defences on the beaches of Normandy in the early stages of the allied assault of D-Day.

Mallory Moench and Ashitha Nagesh
Reporting from outside Buckingham Palace

Workers are beginning to take down the stage in front of Buckingham Palace.

Most attendees have left or moved on to walk or sit in the park, while the usual crowds and tourists have begun to trickle back in.

It’s gotten colder and the sky has been threatening rain, although it’s stayed dry.