Perfectly timed photo of Kate and children watching flypast up for award

Prince George, Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the flypast featuring the RAF’s Red Arrows and current and historic military aircraft, at the end of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, and in honour of those who served during the Second World War (Aaron Chown/PA) -

A photograph depicting the Princess of Wales and her children watching a VE Day flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony has been shortlisted for a prestigious public vote award.

The image is one of 21 selected by a panel of judges for the annual UK Picture Editors Guild Awards' Photograph of the Year. It shows Kate, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte leaning forward to get a better view of the Red Arrows flypast.

This memorable moment took place at the conclusion of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 5 May last year. The public can now cast their vote for the winning picture.

The King joins Second World War veteran Ruth Barnwell at a tea party in Buckingham Palace following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Another shortlisted picture taken on the same day shows the King chatting with 101-year-old Second World War veteran Ruth Barnwell at a tea party in Buckingham Palace following the VE Day procession.

A photo of the Princess Royal coming across two sleeping farmers while she toured cattle stalls during a visit to the Royal Highland Show at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, also made the shortlist.

A couple of farmers sleep as the Princess Royal tours the cattle stalls in the Highland Hall during a visit to the Royal Highland Show at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

A harrowing photograph showing the aftermath of the terrorist attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester in October last year is among the works shortlisted.

There are also photos of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner vaping on an inflatable boat, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch unwittingly pointing a gun at a soldier during a visit to Carver Barracks in her constituency in north-west Essex, golfer Rory McIlroy celebrating after winning the 2025 Ryder Cup, and Larry the Cat roaming in front of 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Rory McIlroy of Team Europe celebrates after winning the Ryder Cup, beating the United States 15-13 on day three of the 2025 Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black Course, Farmingdale, New York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Other works include migrants preparing to board a dinghy to cross the English Channel from France, protesters waving Union and St George’s England flags during the Unite The Kingdom rally in central London last September, and 89-year-old Ursula Pethick being arrested for displaying messages of support for Palestine Action in a Parliament Square protest last August.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch during a visit to Carver Barracks in her constituency in Essex (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Photos of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Pope Francis’s funeral are also up for the award.

Voting for the award closes at noon on June 10 and the winner will be announced on June 30.

Votes can be cast at pictureeditorsguildawards.co.uk