Prince William and Princess Kate: Royal-couple honors war victims to the VJ Day

The Royals interrupted their summer break to maintain a tradition that is particularly important to them. Prince William and Princess Kate, both 43, spoke on Friday, August 15, with an emotional message on social media.

“Today, on the 80th anniversary of the VJ Day, we remember the courage, the victim and the resistance of everyone who served,” the two wrote in the statement. They particularly thought to the British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the Asia-Pacific room. “We owe the generation that gave so much and who we will always be grateful, our lasting thanks,” continued the royal couple.

The news signed William and Kate with their initials and the sentence: “So that we don’t forget.” These words are of particular importance in Great Britain and are traditionally used for memorial celebrations for war victims.

The VJ Day marks the end of the Second World War in Japan and in the Pacific. The Japanese surrender followed the atomic bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. In May, the royal family, including Williams and Kate’s three young children Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10) and Prince Louis (7), celebrated the end of the war in Europe.

Also King Charles III. was addressed to the nation in a moving speech. Before an official commemoration, Charles paid tribute to Veterans and her relatives for their service eight decades ago. “To the families of all those who have served, and to this sadly dwindling crowd of veterans among us: Please know that the courage and camaraderie, which were shown in the darkest hour of mankind, is a flame that will blame for eternity,” said the king.

In his speech, Charles also remembered his grandfather King George VI, who announced the end of the war 80 years ago. “The war is over, my grandfather, King George VI, said in his speech to the nation and the Commonwealth at VJ Day 80 years ago – four short words after six long years of blood pouring, fear and suffering”,

The king also mentioned the suffering of the cities under the dropping of the first atomic bombs in the last weeks of the war. “On this significant anniversary, we should also pause and acknowledge that in the last act of the war, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – a prize that we pray that no nation has to pay him again,” Charles continued.