A deeply moving moment at a remembrance service left King Charles III and Queen Camilla visibly emotional and "reduced to tears" by an unexpected tribute from a 105-year-old former soldier.
An Unscripted Salute That Moved a Monarch
The poignant incident occurred in August at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire during a VJ Day commemoration service. The guest of honour was Yavar Abbas, a 105-year-old former captain in the 11th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army.
Mr Abbas, originally from Lucknow in India, was scheduled to read extracts from his wartime diary recalling his service in Burma in 1945. However, in a spontaneous act that captivated the audience of approximately 1,500 guests, he departed from his script to directly address the King.
Radio 2 presenter Paddy O'Connell, who witnessed the event, recounted the powerful scene. "The BBC people were going, 'Oh, what is he going to say'," O'Connell recalled, "and he said, 'I'm going to salute my King who is here in front of me today, who would make his grandfather proud'. Both the King and Queen were reduced to tears."
A Tribute to Courage and Continuity
Mr Abbas used his unplanned speech to pay a powerful tribute to the King's own fortitude. "I make no apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King," he declared, "who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he is under treatment for cancer."
The former soldier, who revealed he had himself battled and overcome cancer 25 years prior, said he hoped his own experience would bring "comfort" to the monarch. His words were met with resounding applause from the gathered crowd.
He further honoured the King by connecting his presence to the legacy of his grandfather, King George VI. "I salute him for gracing this occasion," Mr Abbas stated, "because by his presence here, he has gone a long way to make sure that his grandad’s 14th Army is never given the sobriquet again of The Forgotten Army."
A Life of Service and a Weekend of Remembrance
Yavar Abbas's own story is one of remarkable service. He told the Royal British Legion that he enlisted despite initially being a "radical Nationalist student" who believed in Indian independence. Trained as a combat cameraman, he was sent to the front lines in Burma, "armed with a pistol and a Vinten film camera."
He captured historic footage of major conflicts, including the Battles of Imphal and Kohima, and the Battle of Mandalay in early 1945. Reflecting on his service, he said, "I was defending democracy and freedom and everything that is good and noble about humanity!... I was proud to be in the army. I still am proud of what I did."
The emotional encounter comes as the King prepares to lead the nation in remembrance this weekend. As head of the Armed Forces, King Charles finds Remembrance Sunday "very important," a sentiment undoubtedly deepened by the military service of his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and his grandfather.
The Royal Family's commemorative duties include the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, featuring performances from artists like Sir Rod Stewart and Sam Ryder, before the King leads the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Sunday.
