On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Second World War, Prince Harry left a moving tribute to his late grandfather, Prince Philip, shortly after his father, King Charles, paid tribute.
Prince Harry has paid tribute to his late grandfather Prince Philip in a secret letter on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – just hours after King Charles and Queen Camilla also marked the emotional day.
The King and Queen led the nation in commemorating the 80th anniversary of VJ Day during a moving ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Friday. The moving ceremony came on the day that Charles vowed that the sacrifice of heroes who fought and died in the campaigns in the Pacific and Far East during the Second World War “shall never be forgotten”.
Just hours later, a letter and wreath from Prince Harry, who served in the Army for 10 years, was placed at the Burma Star Memorial at the same location.
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The letter, which includes his royal emblem, pays tribute to all that fought in the war, including his late grandfather, Prince Philip, who served in the Far East. The letter, first revealed by GB News, was not signed by Harry’s wife, Meghan.
The letter was addressed to “the Forgotten Army”, and read in full: “On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we pause to remember the day the guns finally fell silent across the world, the true end of the Second World War. We also pause to recognise you, the men and women of the ‘Forgotten Army,’ whose courage and endurance in the Far East campaign were anything but forgettable.
You fought alongside a last-ditch adversary, faced unforgiving terrain, endured months, even years, far from home, in a situation that few could have imagined. Your sacrifice, unity, and grit were the hallmarks of your service in Burma’s and neighbor’s jungles. Generations of people have been able to live in freedom as a result of that sacrifice, including myself.
“From that bitter conflict, it became clear that even the most enominous of enemies can eventually turn out to be respected partners in peace.” As our countries honor this anniversary today, we pay tribute to the respect we were given, the lives lost, and the steadfast friendship that has since grown.
This anniversary has an additional layer of meaning for me. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, my grandfather, served in the Pacific campaign. He described those years with a quiet demeanor, but I am aware of how much he admired everyone who supported him during that conflict. I think of him today, and I think about each of you because of the friendships you and I shared, and the legacy you leave behind.
“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. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.”
When Japanese officials formally signed the surrender on the USS Missouri, the late Philip, who passed away in 2021, was on the destroyer HMS Whelp, a warship he served on as second-in-command, in Tokyo Bay.
It is reported that Harry insists the tribute was laid by a friend, with strict instructions only for it to be placed at the memorial after his father and stepmother have left so as not to overshadow them. This is a significant indication that he is determined to make amends with his royal relatives.
The move comes just weeks after it emerged that top aides for Harry and Charles met in London last month, tipped as a crucial “first step” in what insiders believed could be a “rapprochement process” between the estranged Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family.
Source: Mirror
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