Royal remembrance draws tears at VJ Day service

Queen Camilla was moved by a veteran’s tribute to King Charles at the VJ Day remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Queen Camilla moved to tears as 105-year-old veteran addresses King Charles amid cancer treatment

At the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Queen Camilla was visibly moved when a 105-year-old veteran addressed King Charles during the national service marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. Yavar Abbas saluted the king with the words “my brave king” as he spoke directly to Charles, praising him for attending despite the monarch’s cancer treatment. The King laid a wreath, and a two-minute silence followed, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer among those in attendance along with veterans and senior politicians.

The event drew about 1,500 guests, including 33 veterans aged 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific. Flypasts by the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight added ceremony to the service, which was hosted by actress Celie Imrie. Earlier in the day, Princess Kate and Prince William issued a joint message to mark the anniversary, underscoring the monarch’s endurance and the military’s ongoing ties to national memory.

The moment blends personal courage with institutional ritual. It shows a monarchy that leans on memory to reaffirm legitimacy during a period of public health uncertainty about King Charles’s cancer treatment. The presence of veterans, active politicians, and a large crowd reinforces the idea that remembrance services function as a social glue, linking past sacrifice to present duty. Yet the focus on health headlines can complicate how the royal family is perceived, balancing sympathy with scrutiny over the optics of public life during illness.

This event also foregrounds the idea that the monarchy remains a living link to history. The involvement of multiple generations—from aging veterans to younger royals sending messages—suggests a deliberate posture of continuity. How this balance plays out in public sentiment may shape future coverage of royal duties and the palace’s approach to health disclosures.

Highlights

Memory and duty endure even as the royal story evolves.