King Charles to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with an address to the nation
Charles' pre-recorded audio message will be broadcast on VJ Day ahead of a service of remembrance attended by the King and Queen, Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
VJ Day on August 15 marks the anniversary of Japan 's surrender to the Allies following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, effectively ending the Second World War.
The service, broadcast live by the BBC, will pay tribute to all those who served in the Asia-Pacific theatre, including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans, former prisoners of war, and those who fought in pivotal battles including Kohima and Imphal in India.
The event, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, will see the King and his wife leave floral tributes, as will other senior figures.
A national two-minute silence will conclude with an aerial display by the Red Arrows and the service will draw to a close with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, before the King and Queen attend a reception with Second World War veterans.
While Charles and Camilla are at the National Memorial Arboretum event, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland.
Elsewhere, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will join the congregation at the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral, before attending a second commemorative service dedicated to the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk.
Ahead of VJ Day, Sophie will meet Second World War veteran Jim Wren, who was serving on HMS Repulse when he was captured and held on the Indonesian island of Sumatra until the end of the war.
Events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day will conclude with a reception for veterans at Windsor Castle later in the autumn.
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And when she did so, lovingly, he became so emotional he cried – and then she did too. We're used to tears in sessions.' Bright and Waterfield often demonstrate (fully clothed) techniques and 'non-pressured positions', for example when working with men struggling with erections post prostate surgery. 'Things like the 'scissors' position are ideal for men experiencing arousal or erection challenges. One client said he felt more pleasure in that position than ever before, even without an erection,' says Bright. Giggling in the class is far from frowned upon – it's encouraged. 'Graeme and I want people to relax and have fun, while classes are all about sex we like people to lighten up, have fun, be spontaneous and playful. Half the time sex goes wrong when it's taken too seriously,' she says. Men who ejaculate prematurely (a common concern they regularly address), Bright believes, are often 'not trained in how to handle the sexual energy in their body'. Once that's been learnt, it's more effective than the creams commonly prescribed for the issue. 'They've grown up watching films depicting what I call 'hot sex', meaning, like a fire, it gets rapidly hot – and burns out just as quickly. Most men have a lot of tension in their bodies and need to learn to relax and slow down.' Generally speaking, for the couples she works with, men have sex to wind down, whereas women need to wind down to have sex. And women have their own, different struggles. 'So many midlife women have spent their lives just pleasing their partner when it comes to sex, they think that's how it should be, as it is in pornography. So it can take a while to unpick the layers of what women actually want,' says Bright. 'When people tell me that their sex life has become 'boring', 'routine' and feels 'mechanical', 99 per cent of the time it's because they are having this regular 'hot sex' over and over again – and think there's something wrong with them for not enjoying it. Being told they're not the issue, but the type of sex is, is a relief.' The wrong approach Bright's pet hate is being asked how to 'spice things up'. 'Spicing it up is not a solution, that's like drinking alcohol to de-stress, or online shopping for a quick dopamine hit,' she says. 'It might work in the short term – though usually doesn't – and if it doesn't work, people feel like they failed and it's made things worse.' Treating sex as a form of entertainment that can be 'fixed' by bringing in new toys implies sex exists in a vacuum, she explains. 'Much better is to acknowledge, together, all the other elements that come into play at this stage: the stresses in life, the unspoken disappointments and resentments, the absence of fun and playtime. These are just a few things that could be contributing to your less-than-optimal sex life – and no amount of vibrators, whips and new positions is going to sort these out. 'Mostly, people who are not enjoying sex, don't need more techniques, positions, props and toys – which can cause performance anxiety – they need less.' In a world where sex is often sensationalised, and then the lack of it stigmatised, Bright's realism is refreshing. 'We're not here to shock anyone, and we're not promising miracles,' she says. 'We're here to make this feel doable. Some days it works, others it doesn't. Would you pick up a guitar and expect to play it perfectly? No. Intimacy is the same – it takes practice, practice and patience. That's all most couples really need.' Whatever you may think of Bright and Waterfield's approach, it's clear that it's working well for them. After seven years together, there's no sign of any itch – it's rare to witness a midlife couple so obviously bonded in every way. They schedule time alone together and intimacy (not necessarily sex, though it normally ends up with it, says Bright) which they both view as 'a treat to really look forward to'. 'We're both 51 and surprised ourselves to say we are having the best and most meaningful sex of our lives,' says Bright. And who can argue with that? My 10 best midlife sex tips By Sarah Rose Bright 1. Slow down Sex often becomes rushed, especially in long-term relationships, a job to be ticked off. But rushing creates tension, physically and mentally. Slowing down allows both partners to feel more, connect more, and enjoy each other. 2. Relax and savour the moment Many couples only relax after orgasm, but I teach the opposite. When you're relaxed during sex, it becomes nourishing, enjoyable – not just a quick release. Think about food: if you're given a beautiful meal, you savour each mouthful rather than gulping it down. 3. Explore soft penetration Men often fear that ageing, health issues or prostate surgery mean that their sex lives are over. But sex doesn't require a fully hard penis. For clients struggling with erection issues, introducing the idea of soft penetration can be a game-changer. Sex can still be pleasurable and intimate without pressure to perform. 4. Drop porn-based sex The biggest myth is that sex should look like porn – hard, fast, performative and focused on the goals. That's exhausting. Couples say sex has become mechanical and repetitive, but authentic sex is about discovering what actually feels good to you, not what you think it should look like. 5. Reconnect with self massage Especially during menopause, I recommend daily vulva massage with oils or prescribed creams. Most women only touch their genitals for two reasons: to check if something's wrong, or to orgasm. Daily massage without any goal reconnects you to your body, improves blood flow, and reduces dryness. I prefer the term 'self-pleasure' to 'masturbation', which etymologically implies self-defilement. Words carry shame, and self-pleasure is about loving touch without agenda. 6. Understand responsive desire Many women don't experience spontaneous desire like in movies. They need something to respond to – touch, words, connection – before they feel desire. This is called 'responsive desire' and it's perfectly normal. 7. Don't try to 'spice it up' before addressing the foundations Couples often think buying whips, handcuffs or toys will fix their sex life. But if the foundations aren't there – if you don't know what you want, can't express it, or aren't enjoying the basics – then 'spicing up' will feel empty. Many couples feel so much more connected and satisfied using this approach that the idea of needing to 'spice things up' becomes redundant. 8. Include intimacy that isn't goal-focused When sex becomes difficult, many couples withdraw from intimacy altogether, fearing it will lead to unwanted sex. Yet kisses, cuddles and touch are vital forms of intimacy. You can enjoy sensual massage, naked cuddles or kissing without it leading to penetration. 9. Sex can be healing Sex is healing in itself. Our bodies and our genitals can carry so much tension, trauma and expectation. Touching them with loving presence, either alone or with a partner, can release shame and build confidence, and this can be especially important in midlife when our bodies are changing. 10. Embracing change instead of resisting it Midlife sex isn't about desperately clawing back what you had in your 20s. Your body changes, your hormones change, and so does your sex life – but it can still be deeply enjoyable. Think of it like exercise. We don't expect to run as we did at 20, but we can still keep fit and strong in new ways. Trying to recreate youthful sex is like trying to recreate your 20-something exercise routine. It's pointless. Embrace the new chapter.
