King Charles will deliver a personal audio message to the nation on Friday, vowing that the service and sacrifice of Second World War heroes who fought in the Pacific and Far East "shall never be forgotten" on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. The six-minute speech, recorded earlier this month in the Morning Room at Clarence House, echoes the historic wartime broadcasts made by his grandfather King George VI.
The King will reflect on the horrors experienced by prisoners of war and civilians in occupied territories, saying their suffering "reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life". He will describe how VJ Day heroes "gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected".
Charles will emphasise that victory was made possible through international collaboration "across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides". He will declare 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".
National service of remembrance
The King and Queen will attend a commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Second World War veterans. The Royal British Legion is hosting the event in partnership with the Government.
The service will pay tribute to all those who served in the Asia-Pacific theatre, including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans, former prisoners of war, and those who fought in pivotal battles at Kohima and Imphal. According to reports, surviving veterans attending range in age from 96 to 105, highlighting this may be the last major VJ Day anniversary with significant survivor participation.
Among the attendees will be two surviving Chindits, representing one of the war's most elite jungle warfare units. The commemoration demonstrates global reach, with one veteran watching from Ghana showing the Commonwealth connection to the anniversary.
Live broadcast and ceremonies
The BBC will broadcast the service live from 11:30am on Friday. The ceremony will include a national two-minute silence, concluded by an aerial display from the Red Arrows.
The King and Queen will leave floral tributes alongside other senior figures. The service will close with a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, followed by a reception with Second World War veterans.
VJ Day on August 15 marks the anniversary of Japan's surrender to the Allies following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, effectively ending the Second World War. The King's audio message will be released at 7:30am ahead of the main ceremony.
Sources used: "PA Media", "WalesOnline" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
