King Charles will mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Friday with an address honouring the service and sacrifice of second world war personnel in the Asia-Pacific region, declaring that they 'shall never be forgotten'. The monarch's message, to be released at 7.30am BST, reflects on the horrors endured by prisoners of war and civilians, noting that 'war's true cost extends beyond battlefields'.
The King and Queen Camilla will attend a service of remembrance with veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The service, broadcast live by the BBC, includes a two-minute silence and an aerial display by the Red Arrows, followed by a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
In a six-minute address echoing his grandfather George VI's historic broadcast, Charles will emphasise that the heroes of VJ Day 'gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected'. He will highlight how victory relied on collaboration across nations, faiths and cultures, stating that 'the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear but the arms you link'.
On Friday evening, hundreds of buildings across the UK will be illuminated as part of VJ80 commemorations. The King and Queen will later attend a reception with second world war veterans, marking the end of a day of remembrance for those who served in the Burma campaign and other pivotal battles such as Kohima and Imphal.
