Royal remembrance event announced

The king marks the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a six-minute radio address honoring forgotten Far East veterans.

King Charles addresses nation in broadcast marking end of World War II

King Charles will broadcast a six-minute message to mark 80 years since Japan’s surrender on VJ Day. He emphasizes that veterans who carried on fighting in the Far East and Pacific showed that freedom must be defended and that this work requires cooperation across borders, faiths and cultures. The speech is followed by a Royal British Legion service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where 33 VJ Day veterans aged 96 to 105 will be thanked in person.

The occasion connects to VE Day memories and to calls for equal recognition of Far East veterans. The king is joined by the Queen at the event, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend with the Japanese ambassador. The ceremony includes a guard of honour and a flypast by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, underscoring the long arc of conflict that links these moments.

The broadcast frames memory as a national duty and uses the monarchy to keep history in the present. Emphasizing the forgotten Far East war highlights how public memory can overlook certain theatres of war and how leaders can guide that memory.

Yet the event also touches on delicate political questions about recognition and funding for veterans. Critics may push for equal treatment of all veterans and for a broader discussion of colonial histories. The royal couple’s presence signals a soft power use of pageantry, which can both unite and divide.

Highlights

Memory is imperfect, but the act of remembering shapes the road ahead.