King Charles III has issued a rare speech to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day – however, some people have a complaint.

For those unfamiliar, VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorates the end of World War II after Japan surrendered to the Allied forces.

The 76-year-old monarch paid tribute to veterans and delivered a poignant message on current conflicts during the six-minute declaration. His audio message was released at 7.30am this morning (15 August), recorded earlier this month. Later today, the King and Queen Camilla, alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will attend a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Tribute to courage and sacrifice

In his touching speech, Charles hailed the “courage and camaraderie” of those who fought in the Pacific and Far East during “humanity’s darkest hour” as “a flame that shall blaze for eternity.”

He acknowledged the devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing the “immense price” paid by its citizens as one “we pray no nation need ever pay again.” His reflections come at a time of heightened concern about the global threat of nuclear conflict.

The King also spoke of allied prisoners of war who endured “years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance.” He described the mental and physical scars carried by survivors, vowing that the service and sacrifice of VJ Day heroes “shall never be forgotten.”

He told their families and the “sadly dwindling band of veterans”: “Please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity’s darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity – a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.”

Charles added: “Those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected. Countries and communities that had never before fought together learned to coordinate their efforts across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides. Together they proved that, 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. That remains a vital lesson for our times.”

Mixed reactions to the broadcast

Royal family fans praised the speech as “powerful and moving.” But some expressed disappointment that it was delivered via an audio message with only a photo, instead of a video.

One social media user commented: “Why is King Charles III only shown as a photo? Surely, if he is addressing the nation, he should be on video. After all, his mother in the 50s was able to do this with the then limited technology.”

Others focused on the words themselves. One wrote: “Incredibly powerful & moving speech from King Charles to mark the 80th anniversary of #VJDay. His emphasis on our need – more than ever – not to raise arms against one another but to link arms together in peace, is vital. The courage, bravery & stoicism of veterans is inspiring.”