King Charles III led national commemorations on Friday marking the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, paying tribute to the “courage and camaraderie” of World War II veterans and civilians who endured the conflict.
Joined by Queen Camilla, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and dozens of dignitaries, Charles attended a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in central England, where wreaths were laid and a two-minute silence observed at noon.
The event, attended by 33 veterans aged between 96 and 105, featured flypasts by the Red Arrows and WWII-era aircraft. In an audio address ahead of the ceremony, the king pledged that the “service and sacrifice” of those who fought “will never be forgotten,” describing their unity as “a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.”
Charles met veterans and their families after the service, while survivors took part in the programme, including 103-year-old Owen Filer, who read the dedication from the Kohima Epitaph: “For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
Remembrance events were also held in London, Belfast, and Edinburgh, where a lone piper played from the castle battlements.
In his message, Charles drew a link between WWII and modern conflicts, including Ukraine, saying the war’s lessons remain urgent. He also urged reflection on the human cost of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which precipitated Japan’s surrender in August 1945.
Prime Minister Starmer, hosting veterans at Downing Street on Thursday, noted he had earlier welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying Ukraine is “fighting for the same values” as those defended in WWII.
In Japan, Emperor Naruhito marked the occasion by expressing “deep remorse” at a memorial service, as tens of thousands visited Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, which honours 2.5 million war dead — including convicted war criminals.
