Live updates from VE Day celebrations in London led by King Charles

Michael Burn, 67, arrived at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace this morning.

Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: ‘Obviously I’m very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I’ll be here.

‘I think we’ve been very lucky that we’ve had 80 years of peace and these are very troubled times at the moment and we’ve got to think about all those that have the ultimate sacrifice and there’s very few of them left now because they’re all over 100.

‘This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.’

Speaking of his suit and holding a seven foot Union flag he said: “I bought this for the London 2012 Olympics and have worn it at every Royal event since.

‘I can still get into it,’ he joked

In Whitehall, where the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day will pass later, the Cenotaph is draped in a large Union flag.

The south and north face of the landmark are covered.

It is the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920.

A hundred metres away, the base of the Monument To The Women Of World War II is covered in poppy wreaths.

Today marks exactly 80 years since Winston Churchill announced the end of the Second World War and victory in Europe.

It is the first of four days of celebrations to mark the milestone.

Here are the events scheduled for today:

• 12pm: Timothy Spall recites Winston Churchill’s famous VE Day Speech as Big Ben strikes at midday.
• 12.10pm: The military procession begins as bands and units make their way from Parliament Square to Big Ben
• 1.45pm: A flypast featuring 23 aircraft from the past and present, including the iconic Red Arrows

Later in the afternoon: The King and Queen will host a tea party at Buckingham Palace for veterans.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the UK’s 80th anniversary VE Day celebrations which start today.

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Bank Holiday Monday for events and take in the military procession and a flypast.

The words of Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech, spoken by actor Timothy Spall, will begin the commemorations, which will feature displays by the Red Arrows, appearances by senior royals and street parties across the UK.

Stick with us for the latest updates throughout the day plus the most eye-catching pictures and videos of celebrations across the country.