Prince Harry leaves secret letter at Burma Star Memorial on VJ Day

Prince Harry quietly left a personal tribute for Second World War veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, placing a wreath and a secret letter at the Burma Star Memorial on the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day. The gesture, carried out by a trusted friend after the royal procession concluded and after King Charles III and Queen Camilla had departed, underscored the ongoing connections between the royal family and the memory of those who served in the Far East.

The memorial service at the arboretum, which commemorated the Pacific campaigns and the dedicated service of the Forgotten Army, was led by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the government and attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and a gathering of veterans. The ceremony featured a two-minute silence, a Red Arrows flypast, and readings by veterans and performers, reflecting on the sacrifices made in Asia and the enduring bonds among nations that fought side by side in that theatre of war. King Charles used an audio address to emphasize that the sacrifices of those wars must never be forgotten, and he visited veterans’ tributes later in the day.