Street and tea parties are being held across the country, including at Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, to mark 80 years since World War Two ended in Europe
It comes after the Royal Family watched the Red Arrows fly over the Palace, with the King and Queen waving to thousands of people gathered on the Mall
The Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children, joined the monarch - see the younger royals’ reaction
Earlier, the King saluted a military procession watched by thousands of spectators - one family tell the BBC they left home at 05:30 BST to bag a front-row spot
The World War Two veterans at today's events are in their late nineties and are representatives of a shrinking number of that generation, our royal correspondent Sean Coughlan writes
Watch: The royal moments you may have missed
Image source, Getty ImagesMoments ago, we saw the servicemen and servicewoman of Ukraine carrying the blue and yellow colours of their flag.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the forces are joining together for the procession in order to symbolise the global support for Ukraine's "continued fight for freedom against Russia's unprovoked, illegal invasion".
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from outside Buckingham Palace
We've got a great view from where we are broadcasting from of the special platform for guests including World War Two veterans.
It's decked with bunting and flowers and guests have taken their place.
If they look down the Mall they'll see crowds of people – from different generations – who've gathered to mark this special anniversary.
A bit earlier, we also saw the King being driven past.
He will be joining veterans and the prime minister on the special platform to watch the military procession.
Mallory Moench
Reporting from the Mall
Image source, ReutersAs the Royal Family exited from Buckingham Palace, a bugle played.
They were accompanied by military members as they walked in front of the palace, behind the fountain.
Applause broke out in the crowds as the royals arrived on stage.
I could see the Princess of Wales shaking hands with a veteran and leaning over to talk to him before she took a seat beside him and her children.
Image source, ReutersPrince William and Princess Catherine can be seen in the stands too - along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Royal Family are now sitting and talking with members of the public sat near them.
Image source, PA MediaMallory Moench
Reporting from the Mall
Image source, PA MediaKeir Starmer has also just arrived at the stage, shaking hands along the row as he took his seat.
His arrival caused some excitement among cadets on the other side of the road, where I was standing, where young people were trying to spot famous faces across the way.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have just taken their seats in the box next to Buckingham Palace, alongside other Royal Family members and guests.
Watch along with them as they take in the military procession by tapping watch live at the top of the page.
The military procession around central London has just begun.
As a reminder, he's an overview of the route and the landmarks that it will be passing by:
Image source, PA MediaNext, the Torch for Peace, organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, was presented to veteran Alan Kennett - who will turn 101 at the end of this month.
He then gave permission for the procession to start at Parliament Square - and with that the mounted soldiers lead the way up Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square.
Image source, ReutersActor Timothy Spall, who portrayed the wartime prime minister in the 2010 film The King's Speech, finishes reciting the victory speech, which detailed the signatories on each side of the peace agreement.
"Do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straightforward and die if need be-unconquered," he says.
Timothy Spall reads Churchill's famous victory speech
With military members gathered in Parliament Square, actor Timothy Spall now proceeds with a reading of the famous victory speech made by Winston Churchill on 8 May 1945.
He begins:
"My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole. We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny. After a while we were left all alone against the most tremendous military power that has been seen. We were all alone for a whole year."
Big Ben is sounding across London.
The iconic chimes will soon fade into silence, and actor Timothy Spall will begin reading a portion of Winston Churchill's VE Day broadcast. You can watch the original in full below.
Big Ben strikes midday and so today's commemorative events begin.
Actor Timothy Spall will read part of Winston Churchill's VE Day broadcast from 8 May 1945.
A military procession, watched by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, will shortly begin to make its way from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.
Image source, PA MediaThe King has left Clarence House and has made the short journey to Buckingham Palace ahead of the VE Day commemorations - which are just moments away from starting.
You can follow updates on this page, or by pressing watch live above.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersAlan Kenett, a 100-year-old veteran, will lead today's military procession - getting started at 12:10 BST
Mallory Moench
Reporting from the Mall
We're just minutes away from the VE Day military procession starting, and I've just finished chatting with Richard Singleton.
He tells me he was just six months old when his father was killed in March 1943 while serving in the Royal Navy.
Richard, who’s from Bolton, moved to Canada decades ago, but today he happens to be back in UK while on a month-long visit.
Jenny Sirell, beside him, says she was determined they would come to the Mall today.
Sirell’s father also served in the war, and she says she commemorates it "for all the people that are so brave to give up their lives like that. It’s emotional".
Singleton says he always remembers Armistice Day in Canada, "lest we forget".
Image source, PA MediaWe'll be seeing many members of the Royal Family throughout the day as they take part in and watch the VE Day commemorations. Absent, however, will be the the Duke of Sussex.
Today's events follow Prince Harry's recent interview with the BBC in which he expressed his wish for a "reconciliation" with his family following another court dismissing his appeal over his security arrangements in the UK.
"I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious," Prince Harry told the BBC, who said the dispute over his security had "always been the sticking point".
Harry spoke candidly about his relationship with the Royal Family - including about the fact the King "won't speak to me because of this security stuff".
The Royal Family has since said it is hoping "nothing will detract or distract" from VE Day commemorations this week.
Gem O'Reilly
Reporting from the Mall
Lorraine Kinnear is dressed for the occasion
I've been among the BBC reporters this morning speaking to those lining the Mall waiting for the procession.
Lorraine Kinnear, 52, from Hampstead says it's "important" to remember those that have gone before us.
Today is her way of paying her respects to the armed forces "who still go into war today".
Catherine Denham from Essex says: "We should never forget these moments, for the military and the civilians that lost their lives we need to keep that memory alive. This is a massive occasion to commemorate."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Red Arrows also flew over Buckingham Palace to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022
As we just mentioned, a little later today, the armed forces procession to Buckingham Palace will be followed by a flypast of current and historic military aircraft.
This will include the Royal Airforce's Red Arrows, famous for the red, white and blue smoke trails they leave in the sky.
An institution as synonymous with national celebrations as union jack bunting, the Red Arrows have been performing since 1965.
The group is the Royal Air Force's aerobatic team, and takes its name from the distinctive bright red hawk fast-jets flown by its pilots.
The troupe typically flies in a trademark diamond nine shape, and is based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, with all pilots having also flown operationally in frontline aircraft.
Simon King
BBC weather presenter and meteorologist
It’s going to be a mostly cloudy day in London with a small possibility of a shower passing through, especially around lunchtime.
It's been quite chilly this morning with temperatures climbing from around 7-11C up to 15C during the afternoon.
If there is a passing shower, it shouldn’t affect the military flypast going down the Mall and over Buckingham Palace at around 13:45 BST.
The height of cloud is a more important consideration for the Royal Air Force and while a shower would lower the cloud base, it will still be safe and above the limit for the aircraft taking part.
Ashitha Nagesh
Reporting from the Mall
Though some set their alarm clocks for dawn in order to secure a prime position, there are plenty of people gathered here at the Mall who didn’t arrive in time for a front-row spot.
But they’ve found another bit of prime real estate - the bollards that line the Mall.
