Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, and More Royals Mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day
In a different time, the British royal family might have celebrated a landmark like the 75th anniversary of VJ Day with great fanfare, delivering speeches at large events and the like. In the coronavirus era, they're taking a different tack—but still managing to honor the occasion. On Saturday, the Windsors commemorated the 75th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day with a mix of socially-distanced engagements and social media posts.
Queen Elizabeth issued a statement, which spoke to both the "sense of relief" citizens experienced at the war's end, as well as the "terrible devastation" that so many had to live through before its conclusion. Read it in full below.
Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which brought victory for the Allies and finally marked the end of the Second World War.
Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief. Amongst the joy at the end of the conflict, we also remembered, as we do today, the terrible devastation that it brought, and the cost borne by so many.
Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today. May the memory of their sacrifice and bravery remain with us always.
Princess Anne spoke to WWII veterans in anticipation of the anniversary, hearing their experiences of the lead-up to VJ Day. One of them, 99-year-old Sydney Pidgeon, recalled seeing Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle, who was was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia at the time. (Watch Anne talk with Pidgeon and Australian veteran Leslie Cook in the video above.)
For his part, Prince William delivered a speech that was broadcast as a part of the BBC's special program "VJ Day 75: The Nation’s Tribute." In the address, recorded at the Guards Memorial earlier in August, William speaks directly to those who fought in the war, saying "your bravery and the sacrifices will never be forgotten." Watch an excerpt from the Prince's speech below.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where they lead the country in a two-minute silence. Charles laid a wreath at the memorial, and delivered a speech; the couple also spoke with veterans and descendants of those served in the war. Finally, Charles recorded himself reading an excerpt from his grandfather King George V's diary entry on August 15, 1945. Watch that below.
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