King Charles III has issued a rare speech to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day – however, some people have a complaint.
For those unfamiliar, VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorates the end of World War II after Japan surrendered to the Allied forces.
The 76-year-old monarch paid tribute to veterans and delivered a poignant message on current conflicts during the six-minute declaration. His audio message was released at 7.30am this morning (15 August), recorded earlier this month. Later today, the King and Queen Camilla, alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Tribute to courage and sacrifice
In his touching speech, Charles hailed the “courage and camaraderie” of those who fought in the Pacific and Far East during “humanity’s darkest hour” as “a flame that shall blaze for eternity.”
He acknowledged the devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing the “immense price” paid by its citizens as one “we pray no nation need ever pay again.” His reflections come at a time of heightened concern about the global threat of nuclear conflict.
