On Friday, August 15, 2025, the United Kingdom will pause to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), a date that signaled the end of the Second World War and the close of a chapter marked by immense sacrifice and suffering. Across the nation, communities, veterans, and the Royal Family will gather to honor those whose service in the Asia-Pacific theater brought about the final Allied victory and, ultimately, peace.
At the heart of this year’s commemorations is a deeply personal message from King Charles III. In a six-minute address recorded in the Morning Room at Clarence House, the King reflects on the enduring legacy of those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East. Echoing the historic broadcast made by his grandfather, King George VI, at the war’s end in 1945, King Charles solemnly vows, “the service and sacrifice of veterans and those who lost their lives fighting in the conflict shall never be forgotten.” According to the BBC, the King’s message will be released to the public at 7:30 AM on the anniversary itself, setting the tone for a day of remembrance.
The King’s words do not shy away from the horrors endured by so many. He recalls the suffering of prisoners of war and innocent civilians in occupied territories, stating that their ordeal “reminds us that war’s true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life.” As reported by NationalWorld, Charles emphasizes that the heroes of VJ Day “gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected.” He further highlights that the victory was secured not just through military might but through unity, saying, “in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear but the arms you link.”
Across the UK, commemorative events will bring these words to life. One of the central ceremonies will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, where the King and Queen will attend alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Second World War veterans, and their families. The service, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the government, will be broadcast live on BBC One and will pay tribute to all who served in the Asia-Pacific theater—including Burma Star recipients, British Indian Army veterans, former prisoners of war, and those who fought in pivotal battles such as Kohima and Imphal in India.
The program includes a national two-minute silence at noon, a moment observed across the country. The silence will conclude with a stirring aerial display by the Red Arrows and a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, featuring historic aircraft such as the Dakota, Hurricane, and Spitfire. According to PA Media, military bagpipers will perform the lament “Battle’s O’er” at dawn at the Cenotaph, the National Memorial Arboretum, and Edinburgh Castle. A piper will also play at a Japanese peace garden in west London, symbolizing the reconciliation between the UK and Japan in the decades since the war’s end.
Following the remembrance service, the King and Queen will meet with veterans who served in the Far East and their families, offering a personal touch to the day’s events. Floral tributes will be laid, and members of VJ associations will have the opportunity to share their stories with the monarch. Later in the evening, from 9:00 PM, hundreds of iconic buildings across the UK—including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Blackpool Tower, Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Durham Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, and the White Cliffs of Dover—will be illuminated in tribute to VJ Day, as detailed by the BBC.
Commemorations are not confined to the national stage. In Wrexham, North Wales, the local community will gather at the Burma Star Memorial in Bodhyfryd near the Cenotaph for a short remembrance service beginning at 11:45 AM. Reverend Petra Goodband will lead the ceremony, which will also include representatives of the Armed Forces. As in the rest of the country, a two-minute silence will be observed at noon. Afterward, the Friends of Bellevue Park have organized a reception at the Bellevue Park community centre for veterans, friends, and family, reinforcing the sense of community and collective memory.
Councillor Beverley Parry-Jones, Wrexham’s Armed Forces Champion, paid tribute to those from the region who served in Asia and the Pacific. She remarked, “This Friday marks 80 years since the end of the war with Japan, and it’s important that we take time to remember everyone who served and was affected by this terrible conflict. We remember them all on this special anniversary, and take time to reflect on the sacrifices and suffering they endured—particularly veterans and their families.”
VJ Day, commemorated annually on August 15, marks the day in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This surrender brought an official end to the Second World War, more than three months after the cessation of fighting in Europe on VE Day. The cost of the conflict in the Asia-Pacific region was staggering: an estimated 71,000 soldiers from Britain and the Commonwealth died fighting Japan, including more than 12,000 prisoners of war who perished in captivity.
The 80th anniversary commemorations began on the evening of August 14 with a sunset ceremony at the Memorial Gates in central London, honoring Commonwealth personnel who served and died in the Far East. As reported by BBC, images and stories were projected onto the Memorial Gates using the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s digital story-sharing platform For Evermore. Lord Boateng, chairman of the Memorial Gates Council, laid a wreath on behalf of the King, underscoring the enduring gratitude of a nation.
Events will continue throughout the autumn, concluding with a reception for veterans at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family will be engaged across the country: the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle, while the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will participate in commemorations at Norwich Cathedral and a service dedicated to the Children and Families of Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, reflecting on the significance of the day, stated, “Our country owes a great debt to those who fought for a better future, so we could have the freedoms and the life we enjoy today. We must honour that sacrifice with every new generation.”
As the UK marks this solemn anniversary, the words of King Charles III ring out as a call to remembrance and unity: “The service and sacrifice of veterans and those who lost their lives fighting in the conflict shall never be forgotten.” Through ceremonies grand and humble, across cities and quiet towns alike, the nation comes together not just to remember the past, but to reaffirm the values of freedom, collaboration, and peace that those heroes fought to secure.
