100-year-old veteran kicks off V-E Day events as Britain thanks those who saved it during WWII

LONDON (AP) — A 100-year-old Royal Air Force veteran accepted the thanks of a nation Monday as Britain paused to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and honor the men and women who fought to save the country during World War II.

The day featured a procession by 1,300 members of the British armed forces, accompanied by troops from Ukraine and the U.K.’s NATO allies. The parade didn't begin until Alan Kennett, who landed in northern France on D-Day, accepted the salute from Garrison Sgt. Major Andrew Stokes in front of an audience that included King Charles III.

“Thank you and your generation for securing our freedom 80 years ago,” Stokes, in scarlet tunic and bearskin hat, said before saluting the RAF veteran, wearing a navy blue blazer with his medals pinned on the left breast.

This year’s V-E Day events have taken on increased significance because they are likely to be the last major observance to include significant numbers of World War II veterans.

After Big Ben tolled at noon, actor Timothy Spall recited the victory speech wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered to a roaring crowd in central London on May 8, 1945. Britain started its V-E Day ceremonies three days early because Monday is a public holiday in the U.K.

“I think we’ve been very lucky that we’ve had 80 years of peace … and we’ve got to think about all those that have (made) the ultimate sacrifice, and there’s very few of them left now because they’re all over 100,″ said Michael Burn, 67, who wore a suit patterned after Britain’s red, white and blue Union flag. “This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.”

Then it was time for the parade from the Houses of Parliament, through Trafalgar Square and down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. The Ukrainian contingent, though small, won a huge round of applause as their flag swept past the royal viewing platform.

The event ended with a flyover by British military aircraft, including a wartime Lancaster bomber and the RAF’s Red Arrows aerobatic team.

In the down moments, the Princess of Wales chatted amiably with Bernard Morgan, 101, a veteran who worked as a code breaker during the conflict. Afterward, she introduced Morgan to her children, George, 11, Charlotte, 10 and Louis, 7.

Their place in the front row was a reminder of the gulf between those who fought in World War II and the present generation. With even the youngest of those men and women nearing their 100th birthdays and their ranks dwindling rapidly, many have said they feel a special imperative to tell their stories and attend events that honor their fallen comrades.

Kennett, a mechanic who landed in Normandy to set up an airfield, said he was proud to represent the veterans.

“I just remember those that didn’t come back,” he said. “That’s the thing that sticks in my mind. I’m lucky. I got out. There’s a lot that didn’t, believe me. Luck of the draw. It shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the fly past featuring the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows after a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's William, Prince of Wales, left, Prince George, second left, Prince Louis, center, Kate, Princess of Wales, second right, and Princess Charlotte, right, waves as they appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast during the V-E Day 80th anniversary parade in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Britain's Prince William and Prince Louis watch the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of V-E Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's King Charles III salutes next to Queen Camilla during the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

The Red Arrows the Royal Airforce display team, fly over the Mall and Buckingham Palace during the V-E Day 80th anniversary parade in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool)

Britain's King Charles III salutes as he watches the V-E Day 80th anniversary parade in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Britain's King Charles III salutes as he watches the V-E Day 80th anniversary parade in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Britain's William, Prince of Wales, left, Prince George, second left, Prince Louis, center, Kate, Princess of Wales, second right, and Princess Charlotte, right, as they appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast during the V-E Day 80th anniversary parade in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Britain's King Charles III salutes as he attends the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

From left, veteran Bernard Morgan, Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte attend the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Ben Birchall/Pool Photo via AP)

Ukrainian soldiers march past the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Benjamin Cremel/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrive for the military procession the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

Irish Guards march past the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Benjamin Cremel/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales speaks to veteran Bernard Morgan during the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Ben Birchall/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the Colour Party carry flags of the Commonwealth nations , during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (James Manning/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's King Charles III takes the salute from the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the armed forces ride, during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Ben Birchall/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces march, during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Andrew Matthews/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the armed forces parade down The Mall, during the VE Day 80th anniversary parade, in London, Monday, May 5, 2025. (Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)