At the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, Captain Yavar Abbas, aged 105, moved both King Charles and Queen Camilla to tears when he went off script to deliver a heartfelt tribute.
The ceremony took place on August 15 at the National Memorial Arboretum in England, honoring Victory over Japan and the end of World War II. When Abbas took the stage, he paused before his reading to address the King directly.
“Before I read the excerpt, I make due apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King,” he said, raising his hand, “who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he’s under treatment for cancer.”
As the words sank in, King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, were visibly emotional, with the Queen wiping away tears during the moment.
Abbas, who survived cancer himself, said he felt a deep connection to the monarch. He reassured King Charles by adding that he had been “rid of it for 25 years and counting,” which drew warm applause from those present.
The King revealed his cancer diagnosis last year but has continued his public duties throughout ongoing treatment. Abbas’ words of encouragement carried particular resonance, highlighting a bond between the two men.
Remembering the War Years
Abbas, who served in the 11th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army, then read from his wartime diary, a keepsake preserved by his late wife “perhaps for just such an occasion.”
Dated February 8, 1945, the entry read: “Tomorrow, I hope I will live to do better things. I could have been dead twice before, but I’m still living. I would be surprised if I get a life for a third time. May God spare me.”
Following the reading, King Charles and Queen Camilla warmly greeted Abbas on stage. The King also sat down with the veteran for a personal conversation, as shared in video clips by royal reporter Rebecca English.
Wider Royal Family Tributes
Other royals also took part in commemorations for the historic milestone.
Prince William and Princess Kate, currently on a private summer break, issued a moving message honoring the sacrifice of 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,” they wrote. “We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful.”
The couple signed the post with their initials, “W&C,” to underscore its personal significance.
Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, attended a commemorative service at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle.
Meanwhile, Prince Richard and Birgitte, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, joined two separate ceremonies—one at Norwich Cathedral for the Far East Prisoners of War, and another in Suffolk honoring the children and families of those prisoners.