Last Friday, a quiet but deeply meaningful gesture unfolded at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, England. As the nation marked the 80th anniversary of VJ Day—the day Japan surrendered and the Second World War truly ended—Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, paid tribute to his late grandfather, Prince Philip, and the veterans of the Far East campaign in a way that was both personal and poignant.
According to GB News, Prince Harry, now residing in Montecito, California, composed a heartfelt letter and arranged for a wreath of red poppies to be placed at the Burma Star Memorial. The act was carried out in secrecy: a friend of Harry’s discreetly left the tribute after the official remembrance service had concluded and after King Charles III and Queen Camilla had departed. The intention, as reported by the Mirror, was to ensure the focus remained on the veterans and the official commemoration, not on Harry’s personal act.
The service itself was a moving affair, attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and 33 veterans whose ages ranged from 96 to 105. These men and women, many of whom served in the unforgiving jungles and mountains of Burma and the Pacific, were honored as heroes. One particularly emotional moment came when Yavar Abbas, a 105-year-old veteran originally from Lucknow, India, took the stage to salute the King, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. As Mr. Abbas declared, “I make no apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave king, who is here with his beloved queen in spite of the fact that he is under treatment for cancer,” the crowd of 1,500 responded with applause, and Queen Camilla was seen wiping away a tear.
But it was Prince Harry’s letter, revealed by GB News and detailed in several British outlets, that added a deeply personal layer to the day’s commemorations. Addressed to the ‘Forgotten Army’—the nickname given to those who fought in the Far East campaign—Harry’s letter began: “On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we pause to remember the day the guns finally fell silent across the world, the true end of the Second World War. We also pause to recognise you, the men and women of the ‘Forgotten Army,’ whose courage and endurance in the Far East campaign were anything but forgettable.”
Harry continued, “You faced an enemy determined to the last, fought in unforgiving terrain, and endured months—even years—far from home, in conditions most could scarcely imagine. Your service in the jungles and mountains of Burma and beyond was marked by grit, unity, and sacrifice. It is because of that sacrifice that generations since, myself included, have been able to live in freedom.”
The Duke of Sussex’s tribute carried an additional layer of significance due to his family’s history. As Harry wrote: “For me, this anniversary carries an added layer of meaning. 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’s own military record was distinguished. He was mentioned for bravery during the 1941 Battle of Cape Matapan, promoted to Lieutenant at just 21, and became one of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy. Most notably, Philip was present in Tokyo Bay on the destroyer HMS Whelp, serving as second-in-command, when Japanese officials signed the surrender aboard the USS Missouri. After the war, he continued to serve, later becoming an instructor at HMS Royal Arthur in Wiltshire.
Harry’s letter, headed with his royal cypher and signed “Harry, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex,” concluded with a message of gratitude and remembrance: “I am humbled by your example, proud of your service and dedication, and profoundly grateful for what you endured. Your story is part of our shared heritage, and it must never be forgotten. With the deepest respect, thank you.”
This was only the second time Harry has publicly spoken about his grandfather since Prince Philip’s death in 2021 at the age of 99. The letter was not signed by his wife, Meghan, and was meant as a personal act of remembrance.
Like his grandfather, Harry’s own military service has shaped much of his adult life. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Blues and Royals after passing out at Sandhurst, Harry served 10 years in the British Army, including two tours in Afghanistan—one in 2008, which was cut short due to a media leak, and another in 2012 as an Apache helicopter pilot. His experience in the armed forces inspired him to found the Invictus Games in 2014, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.
Even after their active service ended, both Prince Philip and Prince Harry maintained close ties to the military. Philip’s final public engagement before his retirement in 2017 was in his capacity as Captain General of the Royal Marines—a role he handed over to Harry. However, after stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020, Harry was stripped of his honorary military patronages, a move that reportedly saddened him deeply.
The backdrop to this year’s VJ Day commemoration also included hints of possible reconciliation within the royal family. As reported by the Mirror, aides to Harry and King Charles met in London last month, described by insiders as a potential “first step” towards a rapprochement. The meeting, held on neutral ground at the Royal Over-Seas League, came just a couple of months after Harry’s BBC interview in which he lamented that his father “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” referencing the contentious removal of his police protection in the UK.
For the veterans and their families, the ceremony was a powerful reminder that their sacrifices will not be forgotten. As King Charles vowed during the service, the heroism of those who fought and died in the Far East and Pacific “shall never be forgotten.” The day’s events, from the official ceremony to Harry’s private tribute, underscored the enduring legacy of the ‘Forgotten Army’ and the bonds—both familial and national—that continue to shape the British royal family’s relationship with its military history.
In the end, the 80th anniversary of VJ Day was marked not only by public ceremony but by quiet acts of remembrance, bridging generations and honoring stories that must never fade from collective memory.
