King Charles to mark 80th VJ Day with six-minute address

The 80th anniversary of VJ Day will be marked with a nationally broadcast six-minute message from King Charles, in which he will pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East and pledge that their memory will never be forgotten. The address, recorded at Clarence House, will stress that the true cost of war extends beyond battles, honoring prisoners of war and the civilians who suffered under occupation. It will frame the day as a reminder that victory in 1945 was achieved through close collaboration among nations, across vast distances, faiths and cultures, and that the greatest weapons in times of war and peace are the ties we form rather than the arms we bear.

The climate surrounding the commemoration is one of solemn remembrance and public ceremony. The King and Queen are due to attend a service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, joined by Second World War veterans and the prime minister, with a 400-strong military contingent and displays from the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Ahead of the service, a two-minute national silence will be observed, followed by a flypast and a reception...