King Charles and Queen Camilla Tear Up During VJ Day Service — Photos

Amid solemn tributes and emotional testimonies, the monarch and his consort appeared visibly moved during the ceremony honoring the end of World War II.

On August 15, 2025, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined World War II veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. The service commemorated those who served in the Far East, featured heartfelt tributes, and occurred amid the King's ongoing cancer treatment.

Those in attendance at the event in Staffordshire, including approximately 33 men who had served in the Far East and the Pacific, heard gripping accounts from many people about their wartime experiences.

Yet, one of the most poignant moments came when 105-year-old veteran Yavar Abbas went off script to greet Charles, saying he wished "to salute my brave King, who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he is under treatment for cancer."

Camilla was seen wiping away tears as Yavar went on to share that 25 years had passed since he himself had overcome the disease, a message he hoped would bring the royal couple "comfort."

The Royal Family announced the King's condition back in February 2024, stating that doctors had discovered an issue after Charles underwent treatment for a benign prostate enlargement.

Further tests led to the diagnosis of cancer, although the type wasn't specified. He started treatment and has attended major events since.

Other moments during this service included the King and Queen laying wreaths, a flypast by the RAF's Red Arrows, and a nationwide two-minute silence.

VJ Day commemorates Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945. Earlier today, Charles released a message to honor the sacrifice of approximately 71,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who died during combat, including those who suffered as war prisoners.

Released on the Royal Family's official social media accounts and their website, the King began his speech by saying that the message "The war is over," delivered by his grandfather King George VI over the radio, was one that many families had longed to hear.

Those short words ended years of pain and bloodshed, and no other message could've stirred so many mixed emotions.

"On this day of profound remembrance, I speak to you in that same spirit of commemoration and celebration as we honor all those whose service and sacrifice saw the forces of liberty prevail," he continued, highlighting the collaboration of the Allies and the strength of millions who went out to face the horrors of that time.

According to the King, many of the surviving fighters were left with scars that could never be erased, and the soldiers under General William Slim were often known as "the forgotten army."

However, as a patron for the Burma Memorial Fund, Charles reassured all the survivors and their loved ones that the fallen heroes would always be remembered.

The monarch even acknowledged "the price" the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki paid by the end of the war, hoping that no other country ever has to face such an attack again.

However, it was also important for the King to remember the heroes of VJ Day and how they taught future generations how to protect their freedom through cooperation, even among different cultures and ethnicities.

"Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link," he said. "That remains a vital lesson for our times."

The King ended his speech by telling the surviving veterans and the families of all who served that their bravery would remain an enduring inspiration. After the ceremony, King Charles III and Camilla met attendees and their loved ones at a reception.

Among these heroes was 100-year-old Edward Hadfield, who was part of the 8th Punjab Regiment in Burma. He was on a boat when the war ended and told the BBC that they cheered like never before. Sadly, he lost many friends back then.

Another attendee was 83-year-old Katharine Canning, who was less than a year old when her family was declared enemies in China after the Japanese occupation. They were sent to an internment camp, where they lived for years until paratroopers came for them on VJ Day.

Stanley Roberts, a 99-year-old veteran, added that this occasion was significant because there was a chance most of the survivors would not be around for the 90th memorial.