King Charles to address nation on 80th anniversary of VJ Day tomorrow morning
King Charles III has paid tribute to those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, saying their sacrifice and service "shall never be forgotten".
The monarch has recorded a special message to the Nation, Realms and Commonwealth, to make the occasion. The message will be broadcasted at 7.30am in the UK tomorrow as commemorations take place across the world.
The address will echo the historic one delivered by his grandfather, King George VI, who announced the end of the Second World War on August 15, 1945, the Mirror reports.
During the six minute audio broadcast, Charles will reference the experience endured by Prisoners of War, and to 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'.
The King's message, was recorded last week in the Morning Room at Clarence House.
In the personally penned address, Charles will also 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', since victory was made possible by close collaboration between nations, 'across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides'.
His Majesty will also comment on how the selfless determination of our greatest generation 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 King's full message will be released at 7.30am in the UK tomorrow as commemorations take place across the world.
On August 15, 1945, King George VI spoke to the nation to herald the beginning of a new era for Britain and Europe, saying: 'Japan has surrendered, so let us join in thanking Almighty God that war has ended throughout the world, and that in every country men may now turn their industry, skill, and science to repairing its frightful devastation and to building prosperity and happiness.
'Our sense of deliverance is overpowering, and with it all, we have a right to feel that we have done our duty. I ask you again at this solemn hour to remember all who have laid down their lives, and all who have endured the loss of those they love.'
As part of national commemorations next week the country is set to fall silent for two minutes to honour the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
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The King and Queen will also tomorrow attend a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, featuring a 400-strong contingent from the armed forces, a display by the Red Arrows and historic planes from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Organised in collaboration with the Royal British Legion (RBL), the remembrance service will be attended by Second World War veterans, who Charles and Camilla will meet.
As part of the commemorations this year, the King, 76, in January travelled to Poland to commemorate 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The monarch said "the act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task" as he met Holocaust survivors in Poland.
While VE Day, on May 8, 1945, marked the conclusion of the war in Europe, the fight against Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific continued for three more months, involving thousands of British and Commonwealth troops.
During four days of commemorations in London, King Charles welcomed some of the last remaining WWII veterans and their families to Buckingham Palace for a special engagement to acknowledge their sacrifice.
At a concert in Horse Guards Parade he further echoed the words of his grandfather saying: 'His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.
"While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.'
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Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
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The King and Queen Camilla joined 33 veterans who fearlessly served in the Far East and Pacific at an emotional national service of remembrance in Staffordshire on Friday The King and Queen were moved to tears by the powerful first-hand testimony of VJ veterans as they spoke at a service of remembrance this afternoon, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The sun shone down on the incredibly moving ceremony, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which paid tribute to those who fought and died during the War in the Far East and Pacific. It included two Fly Pasts, a two-minute silence, musical interludes and testimony from survivors of the so-called Forgotten War. But it was Captain Yavar Abbas, from the 11th Sikh Regiment, who stole the show as he went off script to pay tribute to the King for attending today and drawing attention to the veterans who have so often felt overlooked. He paused to salute the King and Queen and thanked them for honouring the 'forgotten Army'. It comes after Prince Harry's devastating loss in royal rift was exposed as Meghan 'holds the cards'. 'Apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King,' Mr Abbas said. 'Who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he is undergoing treatment for cancer. The veteran continued: 'I salute him for attending this occasion. By his presence here he has gone a long way to make sure that his Grandad's 14th army is never given the sobriquet of the forgotten army.' His comments were met with applause from the guests, while Camilla's eyes were red from crying. As he returned to the Royal Box, Mr Abbas saluted the King once more, who stood to chat to the veteran, clasping his hands. They spoke for almost a minute before saluting each other and returning to their seats. When they were reunited at a reception for veterans later that afternoon, they greeted each other like old friends. Shortly before noon, the arrival of a Guard of Honour marked the start of the ceremony, followed by a drum laying ceremony while The Bands of the Royal Marines Portsmouth played Elgar's Nimrod. The National Anthem signalled the arrival of the King, wearing the stone Field Marshall Number 4 uniform, and the Queen, who inspected the Guard of Honour before laying wreaths at the foot of the memorial steps. The Prime Minister, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin and Vice Admiral Paul Bennett also laid wreaths before making their way to their seats in the Royal Box to join the 33 VJ veterans and their families. Sheltered from the heat by a canopy, they had a direct view of the hour-long service, paying tribute to those who continued to fight for three long months after victory had been declared in Europe. For decades, veterans family members of those who died have been campaigning for the VJ heroes to be given the same recognition as those who fought the Nazis in Europe. The hour-long service then got underway, which saw the jets of the Red Arrows leave a trail of red, white and blue in the skies above and was hosted by actress Celia Imrie. The 1,500 guests stood to observe the national two-minute's silence, many removing their hats and bowing their heads as they reflected on those who fought and died during the War in the Far East and Pacific. The only sound that could be heard was that of pigeons ruffling in the trees above. This included the heartbreaking testimony of prisoners of war, who recalled the horrors they endured at the hands of the Japanese Ghani concluded his testimony by saying: 'Never walk with anger, let calmness lead the way.' As John Harlow's testimony was read by actor Anton Lesser, the camera showed the veteran, sitting next to the Queen, holding back tears as he listened to his story. The King appeared to wipe away a tear. Towards the end of the service, celebrated violinist Jennifer Pike MBE performed The Lark Ascending at the top of the memorial, dancers performed at the bottom, waving white doves on long flag poles. The roar of the Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight drew the service to a close. Charles then headed to view the memorials, including the Burma Star Memoirla and the Chanid Memoiral, before reuniting with his wife at a reception for VJ veterans and their families. They spent almost an hour moving from table to table separately and chatting with the veterans who served in the Pacific and Indian Ocean territories and their families. 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The King asked: 'And you didn't come across my Great uncle lord mountbatten? I've heard a lot of stories about him.' Meanwhile, the Queen was discussing the service with Edwin Habberley and said, 'I found it so incredibly moving.' The monarch was then reunited with Mr Abbas, who served as a combat camerman, and they stood clasping hands for 40 seconds before taking their seats. The King told him: 'I can just remember by grandfather, but only just. I was told all the stories about Burma by my great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten. I learned a great deal from him.' Speaking afterwards, Mr Abbas said: 'Today, I make no apology for going off the script. If it upset their schedule, no I don't think it affected their schedule, I think it improved their schedule.' Asked why it was important for him to say what he did, he said: 'I admire the man, I admire the King, he has similar views about things that I have, about the environment for example. He's human.' I admire him for the man that he is. When I went up to him and spoke to him, he said something very touching to me. He said 'I am very grateful to you, I admire you for what you said. Thank you very much. He said to me: 'I almost cried.' And that's our King, he's a great King.' Charles's most poignant words came when chatting to Charlie Richards, 104, one of the last surviving Chindits, a unit that fought deep behind enemy lines in Burma between autumn 1942 and summer 1943. 'The things you did, I could never get over,' the monarch told him. 'We owe you all such a huge debt of gratitude.'
The Sun
6 hours ago
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Charles & Camilla weep at VJ Day ceremony as veteran goes off script with royal tribute before telling of horrors he saw
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'I salute him for gracing this occasion, because by his presence here, he has gone a long way to make sure that his grandad's 14th Army is never given the soubriquet again of a Forgotten Army. ' Tears began to flow down Camilla's cheeks, while Charles, wearing a Field Marshal's uniform, looked visibly moved as they sat with veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Later, the Queen dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and looked lovingly at her husband. The crowd cheered for Yavar, one of 33 veterans, aged 96 to 105, who attended the VJ80 commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum near Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, to mark the day World War Two ended in 1945. Yavas, a former 2nd Lieutenant, went on to tell the audience of the horrors he witnessed in Burma as the Allied 14th Army fought a series of battles against Japanese invaders. Reading his diary entry written in February 1945, he recalled being ready to move out at first light with 'every chance of not coming back at all'. Incredible stories of the last heroes of The Forgotten Army as Britain falls silent to mark 80th anniversary of VJ Day The entry goes on: 'I could have been dead twice before, but I'm still living. I would be surprised if I get a life for a third time. May God spare me.' Yavar lived to tell his tale to the world on VJ Day and when he returned to his place among the veterans in the royal box, King Charles saluted him. I make no apology for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King who is here with his beloved Queen, in spite of the fact that he's under treatment for cancer, an alien that I share with him Yavar Abbas Moments earlier, Camilla had to comfort 100-year-old John Harlow, who was visibly moved when Endeavour actor Anton Lesser told his story. John, from Exeter, Devon, served for two years as a submariner on HMS Rorqual in the Pacific fleet in World War Two, and still mourns the loss of his friend. 9 9 9 Anton told the service the sub's sister ship, HMS Porpoise, was attacked by a Japanese bomber. John recalled: 'None of the crew survived. War doesn't grant you the luxury of goodbyes. 'Every year on VJ Day, I think of a close friend of mine that was on board, Mark Weber. "I wish today for us to remember all the crew of HMS Porpoise, Mark and all lost at sea for in remembering they live on.' The King, Queen, PM and military top brass began the service by laying wreaths at a drumhead set up on the steps of the Arboretum's spectacular Armed Forces Memorial. At noon, the veterans and guests stood in 80-degree heat for the national two-minute silence to remember the almost 30,000 British forces killed in the Far East along with 13,000 who suffered unimaginable brutality as prisoners of war. 9 9 During the silence, eight Red Arrows screamed overhead. Celia Imrie, who fell in love with India while filming The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie, paid tribute to the veterans and all who served: 'We wish to share our gratitude with all who served and were imprisoned. 'Your spirit and determination in the face of unspeakable horrors will not be forgotten.' Bill Jones, 99, of Staines, Surrey, was a Fleet Air Arm Fitter on the island of Ponam. Before the service he said 'I saw the prisoners, thin as rakes, bruises everywhere.' Britain's last two Chindits, Sid Machin, 101, of Christchurch, Dorset, and Charlie Richards, 104, from Kettering, Northants, sat side-by-side. Robert Lindsay read words they had written about their time with the famous Long Range unit fighting behind the enemy lines. 'Never be forgotten' The actor read: 'As we neared the end of our time in Burma, death became an everyday occurrence, with bodies to bury almost every evening, some from enemy action, most from the appalling conditions caused by the monsoon. 'After weeks of this, it made you wonder if it would be your shoulder that death would be tapping on next. When we came back, it felt like people forgot what we did in Burma. 'We still feel proud sitting here today representing all those brave boys we fought alongside in Burma, thanks to You, Sid and Charlie, the Chindits will never be forgotten.' Later the King and Queen then spent around an hour at the reception speaking to veterans. Charles told Charlie Richards, 104, one of the last surviving Chindits, a unit that fought deep behind enemy lines: 'The things you did, I could never get over. We owe you all such a huge debt of gratitude.' TOM'S LAST VIDEO By Mike Ridley ONE of the stars of the commemoration died the day before VJ Day. Former Royal Artillery bombardier Tom Jones, 103, spoke in a video played at the service about fighting in Burma, and how a Gurkha saved his life from the Japanese. But the audience was shocked when the host, actress Celia Imrie, said Tom, of Salford in Gtr Manchester, had died on Thursday afternoon after a short illness. In May, Tom told today's schoolchildren to 'choose peace' because war was 'truly terrible'. 9
