King Charles to Mark VJ Day with Statement

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Buckingham Palace has confirmed that His Majesty King Charles III will deliver a significant audio message next week to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. The address is scheduled to be broadcast across the Commonwealth on Friday, 15 August.

VJ Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day in Australia, marks the official end of the Second World War. The commemorative message will reflect on that momentous day in 1945, which saw the surrender of Imperial Japan and the close of six years of global conflict.

The King’s address is expected to include a tribute to his grandfather, King George VI, who delivered a defining speech on 15 August 1945. That original statement signalled the end of hostilities and looked to a future of recovery and peace across Britain and Europe.

“Japan has surrendered, so let us join in thanking Almighty God that war has ended throughout the world,” King George VI declared at the time, “and that in every country men may now turn their industry, skill, and science to repairing its frightful devastation and to building prosperity and happiness.”

He went on to acknowledge the cost of the war, adding, “Our sense of deliverance is overpowering… I ask you again at this solemn hour to remember all who have laid down their lives, and all who have endured the loss of those they love.”

The Palace has also announced a full schedule of royal engagements to mark the anniversary. King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to attend the National Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Following the ceremony, the royal couple will meet with surviving World War II veterans at a commemorative reception.

Members of the wider Royal Family will take part in remembrance events across the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Edinburgh is expected to meet Second World War veteran Jim Wren, a former crew member of HMS Repulse who was taken prisoner on the island of Sumatra.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will represent the Royal Family at the VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral. Later that day, they will also participate in a separate commemorative event in Suffolk, honouring the children and families of Far East prisoners of war.

These national observances aim to recognise the immense sacrifices made during the Far East campaign and to ensure that the legacy of those who served is never forgotten.

The VJ Day commemorations follow a series of events held earlier this year to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which celebrated Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on 8 May 1945.

While VJ Day is less commonly recognised than its European counterpart, the toll of the Pacific theatre was profound, particularly for British and Commonwealth forces. Many endured harsh conditions as prisoners of war, and thousands lost their lives in battles across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

This year’s remembrance events reflect the Royal Family’s continued commitment to honouring those who served in defence of freedom and the nation. With King Charles still undergoing treatment for cancer, his decision to personally record a message demonstrates the importance of this anniversary within the broader narrative of Britain’s history and wartime sacrifice.

The 80th anniversary of VJ Day stands as a solemn reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring responsibility to remember. As services unfold across the country, the focus will remain on reflection, honour, and the passing on of wartime stories to future generations.