The BBC’s VE Day 80th Anniversary celebration saw an unlikely addition to its lineup on Thursday, as iconic rock band The Darkness took to the stage.

In a show that featured renditions of 1940s classics such as We’ll Meet Again and I Got Rhythm, the famous group took to the stage to perform for the many war veterans, and members of the Royal Family, in attendance.

The concert, which took place at London’s Horseguards Parade, is the last of many events this week to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, which was the day the Second World War finally came to an end in Europe in 1945.

While many fans were quick to praise the band and lead Justin Hawkins for their energetic performance, others shared their confusion at the decision to sign them, considering the audience in attendance.

Taking to X, fans noted that many veterans may prefer some of the older songs in the show, quipping they ‘didn’t know’ The Darkness had such a large following in war heroes.

This was a sentiment that appeared to be echoed by Queen Camilla, as the camera caught her covering her ears, while she chatted to 107-year-old World War Two bomber pilot Harry Richardson. 

Sharing their thoughts on the performance, posts on X included: ‘Harry Richardson, 107 years old World War 2 bomber pilot;

‘We owe him and his heroic colleagues so much;

‘So we wheel out The Darkness singing ”I believe in a thing called love” Don’t know whether to laugh or cry

‘Wasn’t aware of the 100-year-old veterans at this VE Day concert being big fans of The Darkness but there we are!’

‘Nope. The Darkness does not fit here. At all; Not sure how The Darkness fit into this;

‘Watching the VE Day concert, and I didn’t expect to see The Darkness performing;

‘The Darkness at the VE Day concert is so random and not really a war time theme.’

However, others praised the band’s show, with comments including: ‘The Darkness reminding us that I Believe In A Thing Called Love is an absolute banger;

‘The Darkness playing I Believe In Thing Called Love was not on my VE Day bingo list;

‘These 107-year-old veterans of VE Day are loving The Darkness banging out I Believe In A Thing Called Love.’

Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music, along with Prince Edward, 61, and his wife Sophie, 60.

The mother-of-three stunned in an all-white ensemble, rewearing an effortlessly elegant Cream Tailored Bouclé and Chiffon Midi Dress by Self-Portrait.

The artists featured include include the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks – offering her powerful rendition of We’ll Meet Again – Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, Toploader and Tom Walker.

Elsewhere, Brian Cox – celebrated for his role in Succession – delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill’s iconic wartime speech. 

On May 8, 1945 the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI.

After almost six years of fighting against Hitler’s Nazi regime peace was declared, although the war against Japan would continue until August 15 that year.