THE iconic Red Arrows will be flying over Essex this afternoon as the French President Emmanuel Macron visits London.

A flypast is planned by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team taking them over Buckingham Palace at about 5pm. 

After flying over London, the display team will cross Essex skies and are due to hit Colchester at about 5.07pm, having roughly followed the A12 northbound. 

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A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "The Red Arrows and their French counterparts, La Patrouille de France, will fly over London tomorrow to mark 80 years since Charles De Gaulle’s historic speech to Occupied France.

Here are all the expected flypast times

  • 4.40pm - leave Oxford RAF base
  • 4.42pm - Faringdon
  • 4.43pm - Wantage
  • 4.45pm - Wooton Bassett
  • 4.47pm - Pewsey
  • 4.50pm - Newbury
  • 4.51pm - Kingsclere
  • 4.54pm - Aborfield Garrison
  • 4.58pm - Weybridge
  • 5pm - Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace
  • 5.07pm - Colchester
  • 5.11pm - Framsden
  • 5.13pm - East Harling
  • 5.17pm - Whissonsett 
  • 5.22pm - Skegness 
  • 5.27pm - Scampton

"President Macron’s visit marks an important anniversary for our closest European ally."

The planes will take off from an RAF base in Oxfordshire before going over London and then towards Essex.