Prince William and Kate Middleton took a moment to pay tribute to the heroes of World War II’s final chapter, despite being on summer break.
On Friday, Aug. 15, the Prince and Princess of Wales marked the 80th anniversary of the war’s end in Japan with a heartfelt message honoring the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the Asia-Pacific.
The couple’s message, shared on their official social media accounts, landed just hours before King Charles and Queen Camilla led a national remembrance service at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, England — a moment that united the royal family in honoring the dwindling number of veterans from that generation.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Tribute to the Wartime Generation
“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,” William and Kate, both 43, wrote in a post on X. “We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful.”
The couple signed off with a solemn “Lest we forget” and their initials, “W&C.”
VJ Day—Victory over Japan Day—marks the Japanese surrender in August 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9. The surrender brought an official end to the war in the Pacific.
Earlier this year, in May, the Prince and Princess of Wales joined their children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — in commemorating the 79th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe with parades and a flypast at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles’ Address on VJ Day Anniversary
Ahead of the remembrance service, King Charles, 76, delivered a moving address, paying tribute to the dwindling number of surviving veterans and their families.
“So to the families of all those who served, and to that sadly dwindling band of veterans among us still, 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,” the King said.
Reflecting on the words of his grandfather, King George VI, who announced the end of the war 80 years earlier, Charles noted: “The war is over,” declared my grandfather… four short words after six long years of bloodshed, fear and suffering.”
His Majesty also acknowledged the devastating toll on civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki:
“On this landmark anniversary, we should also pause to acknowledge that in the war’s final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.”
In closing, King Charles urged continued vigilance in defending the freedoms secured by the wartime generation:
“Let us therefore pledge to be vigilant guardians of the values they bequeathed to us. And let us, above all, remember the epitaph… ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.’”
Comments
Prince William & Kate Middleton Release Powerful Message