Britain marks 75th anniversary of VJ Day as senior Royals to lead minute’s silence

SENIOR royals including Prince Philip are to lead a minute’s silence as Britain marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall said on Twitter: “Today, we remember the contribution of all Commonwealth and Allied Forces to WWII.”

Pipe Sergeant Neil Esslemont of RAF Halton Pipes & Drums in front of Tower Bridge in London on the 75th anniversary of VJ Day

Baroness Goldie, Minister of State for Defence, and Major Mani Rai MBE laying wreaths at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates in London

Colour Sergeant Lil Bahadur Gurung playing the pipes at the VJ Day 75 commemorations held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire

Veterans arrive to attend the national service of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire

A wreath laid by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace at the Centotaph, Whitehall, London

Union Flags will fly at full-mast on UK Government buildings to mark the 75th anniversary of the day Japan surrendered that brought the Second World War to an end after six years of fighting.

A two-minute silence will be held on at 11am to remember and thank all those from the many nations who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today.

The Queen’s 99-year-old husband Prince Philip and other senior royals will lead British commemorations for VJ Day, which marks Victory over Japan and the end of World War Two.

Philip served in the British navy during the war and was on board the destroyer HMS Whelp in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender was signed.

The royal will feature in a photo montage of living veterans which will be shown on large screens in locations across the country for the August 15 tributes.

Prince Charles will lead a national two-minute silence at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, central England while Prince William will feature in a special BBC TV programme being broadcast today.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will read the Exhortation before the nation falls silent.

Afterwards the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part in a flypast over the arboretum.

There will be flypasts by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, over the four capitals of the UK.

Prince Charles will lay a wreath and deliver a speech as part of the service, before meeting veterans and descendants of those who served in the Asia-Pacific region.

The royal family and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lead the country in honouring those who fought in the Far East and helped to finally end the Second World War 75 years ago.

Thousands of revellers packed into Victoria Square, Birmingham to celebrate VJ Day with gusto, August 15 1945

British WRENS congratulate Mrs Lotus Lee-Chang whose husband was an Army lieutenant, fighting somewhere in China, on VJ Day

VJ Day celebrations at Bridlington, East Yorkshire at the end of the Second World War, August 1945

Victory over Japan Day, VJ Day, the crowds at Buckingham Palace and Queen Victoria Statue

Johnson said: “When the Second World War ended 75 years ago with the surrender of Japan, British soldiers, sailors and airmen were serving in the Far East, fighting hard to achieve victory – and were among the last to come home.

“On this anniversary I want to remember what we owe the veterans of the Far East campaign.

“They brought an end to the Second World War, they changed the course of history for the better, liberated South East Asia, and many paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Johnson has been joined by nine other global figures including US president Donald Trump, Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari and Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau in recording a video message thanking those who served.

In the Friendship of Nations video, released ahead of commemorations, each leader says in turn: “To all who served, we thank you.”

Johnson said: “On this 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we pay tribute to the heroes deployed thousands of miles away in the mountains, islands and rainforests of Asia.

“Unable to celebrate the victory in Europe, and among the last to return home, today we recognise the bravery and ingenuity of those who, in the face of adversity, restored peace and prosperity to the world.

“Their immeasurable sacrifice changed the course of history and at today’s commemorations, we take the opportunity to say what should be said every day – thank you.”

In a letter addressed to the veterans of the Far East Campaign, Johnson showed his gratitude to the 50,000 British and Commonwealth service personnel who laid down their lives in the war against Japan, half of whom died in prison camps.”

He writes: “You were the last to come home but your achievements are written in the lights of the glittering capitals of the dynamic region we see today.”

The day began with a piper playing Battle’s Over at the Imperial War Museum’s HMS Belfast in London at sunrise, as part of a tribute entitled Waking Up To Peace.

Military pipers also played at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was joined by military chiefs as he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, London, on Saturday morning.