38 momentous VJ Day 80th anniversary pictures as King Charles leads the nation in paying tribute to veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire
Their Majesties The King and Queen have joined Second World War veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day
Their Majesties The King and Queen are leading the nation in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire today (Friday 15 August).
The National Service of Remembrance is honouring and remembering those who continued to fight and those who lost their lives during the final three months of the Second World War in the Far East.
This includes hundreds of thousands of soldiers who served alongside British Armed Forces from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nepal and various African nations. Victory over Japan (VJ Day) was declared on 15 August 1945, following Imperial Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces.
The service, run in partnership with the Royal British Legion, is attended by Burma Star recipients, a veteran of the British Indian Army and those involved in the Battles of Kohima and Imphal, as well as Prisoners of War held across the region and veterans stationed in the UK or Commonwealth countries, who contributed to the war effort.
It is also attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Parliamentarians, the Japanese Ambassador and other High Commissioners from across the Commonwealth.
Here’s our picture gallery from the VJ 80th anniversary event at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire today
A veteran during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire Defence Secretary John Healey (left) speaks to veterans during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire A woman tries to keep cool ahead of the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Members of the military attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey (left) attends the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Members of the military take part in the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Members of the military ahead of the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire King Charles III looks on as he attends the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire King Charles III and Queen Camilla react as they attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Members of the Royal Navy march at the Far East Corner of the National Memorial Arboretum, ahead of a reception for VJ veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion at The Aspects Building, following a national Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Members of the Grenadier Guards march at the Far East Corner of the National Memorial Arboretum, ahead of a reception for VJ veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion at The Aspects Building, following a national Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire King Charles III and Queen Camilla arriving for the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire The Red Arrows flypast the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire The Red Arrows flypast the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Queen Camilla during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire King Charles III during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with a military veteran during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire A member of the Royal British Legion at the Far East Corner of the National Memorial Arboretum, during a reception for VJ veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion at The Aspects Building, following a national Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Second World War veteran Alfred Conway (right) from Lincolnshire, who served with the Royal Navy, watches on as his great-grandchildren, Sarah-Jayne Carpenter (left) and James Carpenter (second left) lay a wreath on the Burma Thailand Railway memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, during a reception for VJ veterans and their families hosted by the Royal British Legion at The Aspects Building, following a national Service of Remembrance to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire A guest reflects during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire Ruby Turner sings for the crowd during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire King Charles III during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire King Charles III during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire The Red Arrows flypast the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Alastair Grant/PA Wire The aerobatic display team of the Royal Air Force, The Red Arrows, fly overhead during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and King Charles III during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire King Charles III is greeted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) ahead of the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire (left to right) King Charles III, Royal British Legion National President Vice Admiral Paul Bennett, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Queen Camilla attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire King Charles III arriving for the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire A veteran wipes his eye during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, look on as they attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire King Charles III looks on as he attends the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (2nd L) walks behind King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire A veteran wipes his eyes as he becomes emotional during the national Service of Remembrance, hosted by the Royal British Legion in partnership with the Government, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Picture date: Friday August 15, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Christopher Furlong/PA Wire
A special tribute is hosted by 400 members of the Armed Forces, including a guard of honour from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, with music provided by military bands. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will lead a flypast featuring the historic Dakota, Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft.
