Monarch’s address honours sacrifices of Second World War heroes
King Charles has delivered a heartfelt message ahead of the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, vowing that the sacrifices of those who served “shall never be forgotten.”
In a pre-recorded six-minute speech from the Morning Room at Clarence House, the King paid tribute to the courage and unity that defined the Allied victory over Japan in 1945. Drawing inspiration from his grandfather King George VI’s wartime broadcast, Charles praised the men and women who, in his words, “gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected.”
He went on to highlight how triumph was secured through cooperation “across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides,” adding a poignant reminder: “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.”
A new photograph released by Buckingham Palace shows the monarch seated solemnly at his desk, hands clasped in quiet reflection. His address will be broadcast at 7:30am on Friday, before he and Queen Camilla lead a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The King and Queen will be joined by Second World War veterans, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and members of the public. After laying floral tributes, they will visit memorials, meet VJ associations, and later attend a reception for veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will represent the royal family in Scotland, attending a commemorative service at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland.
Victory over Japan Day, marked on 15 August 1945, commemorates Japan’s surrender following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which brought the Second World War to an end.
