Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis marvel at flyover for VE Day celebrations

They may be royal but Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis proved they’re just like other children as they joined in the festivities for VE day celebrations, marking 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe.

In a rare appearance, the three Wales children joined their parents Prince William and Princess Catherine on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as they watched the famous Red Arrows flyover, alongside senior royals including their grandfather King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

George 11, Charlotte 10 and seven year old Louis watched in awe as a war-era Lancaster bomber led a 23-strong formation thunder overhead and leave the famous white, blue and red trails across the sky.

Prince William looked on earnestly as he tried to follow the planes’ flight path while Princess Catherine let out a big smile as she looked on.

Earlier in the day, the three young royals watched the military procession from the Queen Victoria Memorial, outside Buckingham Palace, alongside their parents and other family members including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke of Kent.

Their appearance marks the start of a new era as the Royal Family celebrates the first landmark Victory in Europe (VE Day) commemoration without any of the royals who stood on the balcony that day 80 years ago.

In 1945, VE Day was greeted by wild celebrations in London and across Britain, as crowds gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace demanding to see the then King George VI and royal family – his wife Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and their two daughters.

The late Queen Elizabeth, then a 19-year-old princess, and her younger sister Margaret famously slipped out to join the throng outside Buckingham Palace – believed to be the only time during her 96 years she mingled with the public unrecognised.

“We cheered the king and queen on the balcony and then walked miles through the streets,” Elizabeth later recalled.

“I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief… I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life.”