King Charles vows sacrifices made by VJ Day heroes 'shall never be forgotten'
The King will pledge that the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East 'shall never be forgotten', in a message to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The King's audio message to the nation, realms and Commonwealth echoes a broadcast made by his grandfather, King George VI, on August 15 1945, known as VJ Day.
It stands for Victory over Japan Day and marks the surrender of Japanese forces, which ended the Second World War.
In the six-minute message, the King will reflect on the horrors experienced by prisoners of war and the innocent civilians of occupied lands in the region, whose suffering 'reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life'.
Charles will describe how the heroes of VJ Day 'gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected, with victory made possible by close collaboration between nations, 'across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides'.
He will say this demonstrated that, 'in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear but the arms you link'.
The message was recorded earlier this month in the Morning Room at Clarence House and will be released ahead of a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the government.
The King and Queen will attend the service and then meet Second World War veterans during a reception.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are not expected to attend any public events to mark the anniversary as they continue their summer break with their three children.
However, other senior members of the Royal Family will participate.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral, before joining a second commemorative service dedicated to the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. Charles praised Mr Glennie when they met in January (Andrew Milligan/PA) He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Prince Harry's 'painful' letter to royals after William 'gut punch'
The Duke of Sussex left a letter at a war memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, and a royal expert has claimed it sends a "painful" message to the Royal Family. A secret letter that has been left by Prince Harry at a war memorial has been viewed as a significant message to the Royal Family, according to a royal expert. They believe the message is somewhat of a 'gut punch' to his relatives. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, paid a touching tribute to his late grandfather Prince Phillip by leaving the letter placed discreetly at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. According to reports in the Mirror, the ex-working royal asked a pal to quietly leave the note alongside a wreath of red poppies at the Burma Star Memorial after the national commemorations attended by the King and Queen Camilla. The letter was allegedly placed after both Charles and Camilla had left, in a bid to not detract from the service honouring the sacrifice of Second World War heroes who fought and died for their country. Royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop suggests that this gesture indicates the "gaping hole" Harry has left. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: "Last week's VJ Day anniversary was heavy with emotion; a sombre recall of the cost of conflict 80 years after the end of the Pacific War beneath the leafy calm of Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum. "Thirty-three veterans made the journey and were honoured by King Charles, who assured them they would never be forgotten. A perfect day, but one without mention of his forgotten son, Prince Harry, once the Royal Family's most effective military figurehead. "It was only after the King and Queen had departed that a friend of Harry's discreetly laid the Duke's wreath, dedicated to his late Grandfather, Prince Philip, who fought in the Pacific War and those who served with him." She continued: "The letter was thoughtful, detailing the 'unforgiving terrain' and years of endurance 'far from home' that the service personnel endured: it honoured the 'grit, unity and sacrifice' of the 'Forgotten Army'. Its belated discovery at the foot of the Burma Star memorial has served to remind King and country of the gaping hole Harry's absence has left in the commemorative circuit. "With two outstanding tours in Afghanistan - one cruelly cut short - the Duke's easy manner and dashing presence in honorary uniform are much missed. "Women who have lost sons and husbands in Afghanistan speak to the Duke's exceptional presence in their time of grief. No one in the Royal Family was a better fit for this most important commemorative role." Following Harry and his wife Meghan Markle's decision to leave their royal duties and the firm behind back in 2020 and re-locate to the US, the Duke was forced to surrender his honorary military positions. He was also prohibited from placing a wreath at the Cenotaph during Remembrance Sunday several years back. Tessa explained how this recent letter and wreath serve as a subtle reminder for the royals. She elaborated: "There is much talk of the Sussexes' new life in Montecito, of Meghan's influencer success, of Harry's difficulties outside the Royal Family, far less attention is paid to his leave of absence from that other institution, the army, and the Duke's forced abandonment of all his honorary roles. "Having first laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in 2009, it was a painful reminder of the cost of what he had left behind when in 2020, he was forbidden from continuing the practice. "Doubling down on that pain was Prince William's recent appointment as Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps in 2024, making Harry's big brother the leader of the regiment the Duke once flew Apache helicopters for in Afghanistan. In comparison, the Prince of Wales flew search-and-rescue helicopters in Wales. "One more gut-punch for the estranged Duke, whose long letter honouring the Pacific War veterans was a quiet reminder that Harry has not forgotten the most important role he was forced to abandon when he left the Royal Family, even if his family appears to have forgotten him."
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
Jim Glennie turned 100 on Tuesday and a number of his family and friends gathered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum where he volunteers. Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. Charles praised Mr Glennie when they met in January (Andrew Milligan/PA) He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'
