Prince Harry paid tribute to the ‘Forgotten Army’ – those who fought in the Far East during the Second World War – in a letter secretly placed at the National Memorial Arboretum. On Friday, the King and Queen attended the national service of remembrance at the memorial in Staffordshire, where they came together to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
It has now emerged that the King’s youngest son paid his own respects on the day, as he asked a friend to place a letter and a wreath at the Burma Star Memorial at the same location. He instructed his pal to place the tribute after the King and Queen had left the site, to avoid Harry’s letter overshadowing the official commemorations. It’s a major sign that Harry is intent on making amends with his family.
In his written tribute, which includes his royal crest and is signed off Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Harry pays tribute to his late grandfather, Prince Philip.
Prince Harry, who served in the British Army for 10 years, said: “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.”
He concluded: “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.”
The revelation by GB News comes after the King and Queen were moved to tears by the powerful first-hand testimony of VJ veterans as they spoke at a service of remembrance on Friday afternoon, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
The sun shone down on the incredibly moving ceremony, held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which paid tribute to those who fought and died during the War in the Far East and Pacific.
It included two Fly Pasts, a two-minute silence, musical interludes and testimony from survivors of the so-called Forgotten War.
But it was Captain Yavar Abbas, from the 11th Sikh Regiment, who stole the show as he went off script to pay tribute to the King for attending today and drawing attention to the veterans who have so often felt overlooked.
He paused to salute the King and Queen and thanked them for honouring the “forgotten Army”. “Apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King,” Mr Abbas said. “Who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he is undergoing treatment for cancer.
The veteran continued: “I salute him for attending this occasion. By his presence here he has gone a long way to make sure that his Grandad’s 14th army is never given the sobriquet of the forgotten army.”
His comments were met with applause from the guests, while Camilla’s eyes were red from crying.
As he returned to the Royal Box, Mr Abbas saluted the King once more, who stood to chat to the veteran, clasping his hands. They spoke for almost a minute before saluting each other and returning to their seats.