King Charles III and Camilla mark VJ Day 80th anniversary

King Charles III and Queen Camilla gathered with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and dozens of World War II veterans on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The royal couple laid wreaths and listened as veterans who served in the Pacific and Far East reflected on courage and camaraderie, moments that were punctuated by a two-minute national silence and a flypast by historic aircraft. A poignant moment during the ceremony, when a 105-year-old veteran went off script to praise the King, brought the couple to tears and highlighted the personal resonance of the day for many in attendance.

The service drew 33 veterans aged between 96 and 105, with most having served far from Europe in the Asia-Pacific theatre. The day’s program included floral tributes and readings, a formal address with a national silence observed at noon, and a reception hosted by the Royal British Legion. In addition to the public ceremony, the day featured an event-wide message from the King aired across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, linking the lessons of the war to present-day global conflicts.

In his audio address, the King recalled the...