By Katherine Tinsley
6:52pm PDT, Aug 19, 2025
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The Sun shared images of
Prince Harry's note, which was affixed to a poppy wreath placed by a friend at the Burma Star Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. "For me, this anniversary carries an added layer of meaning," Harry wrote. "My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Pacific campaign."
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"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,"
Prince Harry continued of his late grandfather, Prince Philip. "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."
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Prince Harry's letter also acknowledged the "Forgotten Army." Wrote the Duke of Sussex, "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 recognize you, the men and women of the 'Forgotten Army,' whose courage and endurance in the Far East campaign were anything but forgettable."
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"You faced an enemy determined to the last, fought in unforgiving terrain, and endured months, even years, far from home, in conditions most could scarcely imagine. Your service in the jungles and mountains of Burma and beyond was marked by grit, unity, and sacrifice,"
Prince Harry continued.
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"It is because of that sacrifice that generations since, myself included, have been able to live in freedom,"
Prince Harry wrote. "From the lessons of that bitter struggle came the understanding that even the fiercest of foes can, in time, become valued partners in peace. Today, as both our nations mark this anniversary, we acknowledge the respect earned, the lives lost and the enduring friendship that has since taken root."
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"I am humbled by your example, proud of your service and dedication, and profoundly grateful for what you endured,"
Prince Harry concluded. "Your story is part of our shared heritage, and it must never be forgotten. With the deepest respect, thank you." He reportedly signed the note, "Harry,
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex."
