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.”