Prince William and Kate Middleton have paused their summer break to mark a historic milestone in Britain’s wartime history. On Friday, August 15, the Prince and Princess of Wales issued an emotional statement in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), commemorating the end of World War II in the Pacific.
“Today, on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of all who served. Today we especially think of those British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the Asia-Pacific,” the couple wrote on their official social media accounts. “We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful.”
The royal pair signed the message with their initials, “W&C,” concluding with the traditional remembrance phrase: Lest we forget.
A Day Marking the End of War in the Pacific
VJ Day, observed annually on August 15, marks the formal surrender of Japan in 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9. The surrender brought an end to World War II in the Pacific, closing the final chapter of the global conflict.
Earlier this year, in May, the Wales family including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined public commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. That occasion saw parades, a flypast over Buckingham Palace, and nationwide events celebrating the victory while remembering those who served.
King Charles Leads National Commemoration
The Waleses’ tribute preceded the official remembrance ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the nation in honoring the fallen.
In a televised address, the King paid special tribute to the dwindling number of surviving veterans and their families. “Please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity’s darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity a beacon that honors our past and guides our future,” he said.
Drawing a poignant connection to his grandfather, King George VI, who addressed the nation on VJ Day in 1945, Charles reflected: “‘The war is over,’ declared my grandfather… four short words after six long years of bloodshed, fear, and suffering. Seldom can a simple message have resonated with such a potent mix of relief, celebration, and sorrow for those who never lived to see the glow of freedom’s new dawn.”
Remembering the Price of Peace
The monarch also acknowledged the immense human cost of the war’s conclusion, noting the suffering endured by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the war’s final days. “On this landmark anniversary, we should also pause to acknowledge that… a price we pray no nation need ever pay again,” he said. “But in recalling so much suffering, we must not lose sight of how great was the cause and how sweet the victory.”
Charles concluded his speech with a solemn pledge to safeguard the freedoms won eight decades ago, invoking the famed epitaph from the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Kohima: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
A Legacy of Gratitude and Vigilance
As the nation reflected on the courage of the wartime generation, the joint tributes from the Prince and Princess of Wales and the King underscored a shared message: that the sacrifices made in the 1940s remain deeply woven into Britain’s identity and values.
While the number of living veterans from World War II continues to decline, their stories and the freedoms secured through their bravery are being preserved by a new generation of royals determined to keep the memory alive.