Across the United Kingdom, the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan (VJ) Day has been marked with heartfelt ceremonies, poignant personal gestures, and vibrant community events, all paying tribute to those who served and sacrificed in the closing chapter of the Second World War. The commemorations, held on and around August 15, 2025, unfolded in towns and villages from the New Forest to Highworth, uniting generations in remembrance and celebration.
Perhaps the most talked-about gesture came from Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who—despite his own military background and deep ties to remembrance traditions—has found himself at a remove from official royal ceremonies since stepping back as a senior royal in 2020. As reported by 9honey, Prince Harry asked a friend to lay a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum following the official VJ Day event attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla. Attached to the wreath was a typed note bearing Harry’s cypher, in which he paid tribute not only to his grandfather, Prince Philip, but to all who served in the Pacific campaign.
"For me, this anniversary carries an added layer of meaning," Prince Harry wrote. "My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Pacific campaign. He spoke with quiet humility about those years, but I know how deeply he respected all who stood beside him in that theatre of war. Today, as I think of him, I think also of each of you, of the shared hardships, the bonds forged, and the legacy you leave."
Prince Philip, as a first lieutenant aboard HMS Whelp, witnessed the signing of the peace agreement that ended the war in 1945. Harry’s note, as well as his broader commitment to military causes—highlighted by his founding of the Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women—underscored the personal resonance of VJ Day for the Duke of Sussex. Yet, not all observers viewed his gesture in the same light. Royal biographer Robert Jobson described the move as "a PR stunt" on the show Royal Exclusive, suggesting it was "a little bit too slick" and speculating that the late Duke of Edinburgh "would have hated that." Jobson added, "He was a serviceman, it wasn't about himself." Still, Jobson acknowledged the complexity of Harry’s position, noting, "he can't really win" after his departure from royal duties and subsequent loss of military patronages—an act by Queen Elizabeth that reportedly hit Harry hard.
While the royal family drama played out in the national spotlight, communities across the UK marked VJ Day with their own traditions and tributes. In the New Forest and Christchurch, ceremonies organized by branches of the Royal British Legion and local councils drew crowds to war memorials. According to the New Milton Advertiser, the Lymington branch of the Royal British Legion held a moving service at the St Thomas Street war memorial, where a woman who had been a prisoner of war in Japan as a child was invited to lay the RBL wreath. The event included a two-minute silence at midday, a moment mirrored in gatherings at Ringwood’s War Memorial Gardens and elsewhere.
Commemorations in Burley took a more festive turn, with the community-run pub The Wathen-Bartlett hosting a Ploughman’s lunch and entertainment by acapella singers Timeless, raising funds for the Poppy Appeal and local charities. At Steamer Point on Friars Cliff, a gathering celebrated not just the human cost of war but also the technological breakthroughs that shaped its outcome. FCRA vice chair Paul De Jonghe recounted the story of the proximity fuze, invented at the site between 1939 and 1942 by ADEE scientists Alan Butement, Edward Shire, and Amherst Thomson. This device, which allowed shells to detonate near enemy aircraft rather than requiring a direct hit, was hailed as "a true game changer"—crucial in defending against Japanese Kamikaze attacks.
Personal stories brought the history of VJ Day to life. Attendees at Steamer Point shared moving testimonials about relatives who had served or been interned in the Far East. The ceremonies were punctuated by traditional acts of remembrance: the lowering of the flag, the sounding of the Last Post, and cakes baked in the style of the 1940s.
Looking ahead, New Milton is set to continue the commemorations with a gathering at its war memorial on September 2, 2025—the date of the formal surrender document’s signing in 1945. The highlight will be 'VJ80 The Homecoming', hosted by the Lions Club of New Milton & District on September 6. The event promises live entertainment, children’s activities, and over 40 stalls, with the Band of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and The Fifinellas headlining the performances. Local centenarian Private Sid Machin, a veteran of the Chindit HQ and the Burma campaign, will be guest of honour, his remarkable wartime experiences serving as a living link to the past. Visitors are encouraged to don 1940s attire, with prizes for the best dressed, and vintage vehicles from the Three Counties Vintage and Classic Car Club will be on display.
Elsewhere, the spirit of remembrance was equally strong. In Saundersfoot, 99-year-old veteran Duncan Hilling, who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in India and was among the first British occupying forces in Japan, attended a community gathering at Rhos Village Hall. The event, organized by The Rhos and District Association (TRADA), featured local residents portraying wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine, a supper of pie, mash, and peas, and music by the duo Geoff and Dave. Attendees stood for a minute’s silence, reflecting on the significance of the anniversary and the lives forever changed by the war’s end.
Highworth, too, marked the occasion with a service at the war memorial, as reported by the Swindon Advertiser. Hosted by the Highworth & District Royal British Legion, the event began with a coffee morning at St Michael’s Church and included wreath-laying by the Mayor, Cllr Julie Murphy, and RBL’s Gerry Evans. Former service personnel, councillors, and residents observed a two-minute silence at the church’s cenotaph before posing for a group photograph with a commemorative VJ Day 80 flag in the Market Square—a powerful symbol of unity and remembrance.
Throughout these commemorations, the common thread was a deep respect for the sacrifices made in the Pacific theatre and a determination to keep the memory of VJ Day alive for future generations. Whether in grand gestures or humble community gatherings, the legacy of those who served continues to be honoured in ways both solemn and celebratory.
The 80th anniversary of VJ Day stands as a reminder not only of the war’s end but of the enduring bonds of service, sacrifice, and remembrance that connect communities across Britain.
