VJ DAY 80 YEARS ON: KING AND QUEEN HONOUR WAR VETERANS

THE King and Queen were moved to tears by the powerful testimony of Second World War veterans at a service of remembrance on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

- BY RUSSELL MYERS

Thirty-three veterans of the Far East campaign joined the monarch and his wife in the Royal Box at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Captain Yavar Abbas, of the 11th Sikh Regiment, paid tribute to Charles for drawing attention to the men of the 14th Army, who became known as the Forgotten Army as their heroics in the Far East were often overlooked. Before reading from his war diary, the veteran paused to salute the monarch who earlier hailed the bravery displayed in "humanity's darkest hour".

Captain Abbas said: "Apologies for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King, who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact that he is undergoing treatment for cancer.

"By his presence here he has gone a long way to make sure his grandad's 14th Army is never given the sobriquet of the Forgotten Army."

His comments drew applause, while Camilla's eyes were red from crying.

Mr Abbas and the King spoke before saluting each other and returning to their seats.

There were heartbreaking words from prisoners of war, who spoke of horrors they endured at the hands of the Japanese army.