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Royal Couple Honors WWII Veterans on 80th Anniversary of VJ Day
15 Aug
Summary
- Prince William and Kate issue emotional message praising wartime generation
- King Charles and Queen Camilla lead U.K. remembrance service
- Royals commemorate end of WWII in Japan and the Pacific
Two years ago, on August 15, 2025, the Prince and Princess of Wales broke from their summer break to issue an emotional message praising the sacrifice of the wartime generation on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Japan.
In their social media post, Kate and William, both 43 at the time, wrote: "Today, on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of all who served. Today we especially think of those British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the Asia-Pacific. We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful."
The royal couple's message came ahead of a formal commemoration of the anniversary, where King Charles and Queen Camilla led the U.K. at a service of remembrance at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, England. In his address to the nation, Charles praised the ever-decreasing number of veterans and their loved ones for their service eight decades ago, saying their "courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity."
