105-year-old leaves royals in tears with moving tribute to 'brave King'

THE King and Queen were moved to tears by the firsthand accounts of veterans at a service to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

- By Emily Ferguson Royal Editor

The commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum paid tribute to those who fought and died during the war in the Far East and the Pacific.

In the blazing sunshine, wreaths were laid by the King and Queen, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin and Vice Admiral Paul Bennett.

But it was the words of Captain Yavar Abbas, 105, of the 11th Sikh Regiment, who stirred the royal couple when he paid tribute to the King for attending despite his cancer battle.

He 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 that his grandad’s 14th Army is never given the sobriquet of the ‘Forgotten Army’.”

His comments were met with applause, while both the King and Queen dabbed their eyes.

Charles spoke to Mr Abbas, clasping his hand, before both returned to their seats. Later at a reception attended by VJ veterans and their families, the King and Mr Abbas greeted one another like old friends.