Prince George made an unexpected and poignant appearance at Buckingham Palace on Monday, joining his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, for a special tea party to mark the beginning of VE Day commemorations.
The 11-year-old royal, looking polished in a navy suit and blue tie, was seen engaging warmly with Second World War veterans during the reception hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. His presence alongside Prince William added a personal touch to the afternoon, which honoured the bravery and service of the wartime generation.
Following the military procession at the Queen Victoria Memorial and the Red Arrows flypast from the palace balcony, George joined his parents inside the palace for the reception, which welcomed around 50 veterans and others who lived through the war—many now supported by the Royal British Legion.
Royal Editor Emily Nash described it as a key milestone for the young royal: “It was a lovely surprise to see Prince George joining the King and Queen and his parents for the veterans’ tea party at the Palace. It’s a big moment for him as second-in-line to the throne and one he will remember for many years to come.”
She added that the appearance reflects William and Kate’s commitment to educating their children about major moments in history, such as the Holocaust and the events of WWII.
One particularly moving exchange took place between George and 101-year-old Alfred, a D-Day veteran who shared his memories of landing on the Normandy beaches under heavy fire. When George asked, “What was it like when you were coming in?” Alfred candidly replied, “Pretty awful.”
He then turned to the young prince and said: “You know, it’s very important you are here today. It’s days like this that we should use to talk about things like this, so the younger generation can have some understanding.”
Alfred also told Prince William, “You should be very proud.”
George also met 99-year-old Dougie Hyde, who served in the Merchant Navy and took part in secret operations to help liberate Europe. Curious and engaged, George asked, “Did you ever get shot at?” and “Did you ever see a U-boat?”
Dougie was impressed by George’s attentiveness: “He was very polite and listened with interest. Whenever I used to do talks to young kids, that’s all you ever wanted—for them to listen and have a little understanding of those days.”
The Royal British Legion later said it was “proud to put Second World War veterans at the heart of the commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day,” and Prince George’s presence offered a powerful symbol of that intergenerational connection.
