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Royal news recap: The King and Queen attend moving VJ Day service


All the latest royal news from Friday 15 August, including the Princess Royal's birthday and VJ Day 80th Anniversary engagements


King Charles III looks on as he attends the Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at The National Memorial Arboretum© Getty Images
HELLO!
Danielle StaceyOnline Royal Correspondent - London
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
Updated: August 15, 2025
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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Princess Anne celebrates her 75th birthday as palace shares two new photos
  • The King delivers an audio message on the morning of VJ Day
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales share personal message
  • King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum
  • Queen Camilla moved to tears by war veteran's salute to the King
  • The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle
  • The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend the Far East Prisoners of War Service at Norwich Cathedral
Digital Travel Editor

Good morning

Good morning, royal fans and happy Friday! 

It's a busy day today with lots to look forward to. Not only is the Princess Royal celebrating her 75th birthday, but the royal family are also marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, which remembers the end of the Second World War around the world. 

There will be lots to keep up with, and rest assured, our fabulous team here at HELLO! will make sure you don't miss a beat. 

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Digital Travel Editor

Happy birthday, Princess Anne!

We're sending a big happy birthday and warm wishes to the Princess Royalwho turns 75 on 15th August.

Princess Anne, who released a fabulous portrait to mark the occasion earlier this week, has been celebrating her birthday with a boat trip around Scotland with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

Anne is no stranger to sailing. So, to celebrate the royal's big day, take a look back at her iconic fashion moments in history that proved she's the ultimate 'sailor girl'.

Princess Anne’s hilarious comment to Gabby Logan’s husband before big match delights fans© Getty
Princess Anne turns 75 on 15 August
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

The King's VJ message

The King has hailed the "courage and camaraderie" of heroes who fought in the Pacific and Far East in "humanity's darkest hour" as "a flame that shall blaze for eternity" on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Speaking in a pre-recorded message from the Morning Room at Clarence House, the 76-year-old monarch also references the historic audio broadcast made by his grandfather King George VI.

King Charles III recording a VJ Day message in the Morning Room of Clarence House, London
The King recorded a VJ Day message in the morning room of Clarence House

It comes ahead of the King and Queen's attendance at a remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire later today.

Buckingham Palace has now released Charles' message in full, which you can read here

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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Happy and relaxed Anne

On the eve of her birthday, the palace released a brand new portrait of Princess Anne pictured outside her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire. We love how happy and relaxed she looks!

Princess Anne pictured in blue dress outside Gatcombe Park © John Swannell for Buckingham Palace
Princess Anne is pictured outside her Gatcombe Park home in a new photo to celebrate her 75th birthday

The Princess Royal will not be present for the VJ commemorations today - find out how she's spending her milestone.

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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

William and Kate's message

The Prince and Princess of Wales have praised the "courage, sacrifice, and resilience" of those who fought in the Pacific and Far East on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

In a message posted on social media, William and Kate said: "Today, on the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember the courage, sacrifice and resilience of all who served.

"Today we especially think of those British and Commonwealth troops who fought in the Asia-Pacific.

"We owe an enduring debt to the generation who gave so much, and to whom we will always be grateful.

"Lest we forget. W & C".

William and Kate's VJ Day message© Instagram / @princeandprincessofwales
The message shared by the Waleses
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Second Anne photo released

Another stunning new photograph of the Princess Royal has been posted by the royal family's social media accounts to mark her milestone today.

Anne looks beautiful in a red shirt dress with pearl jewellery, as she poses in the garden at her Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire. 

"75 today! Thank you for all of your kind birthday wishes for The Princess this week," the caption read.

Princess Anne in red dress and pearls© John Swannell for Buckingham Palace
Princess Anne pictured in her garden at Gatcombe Park

The portrait was captured by John Swannell. 

 

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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Queen Mary's back-to-work look

Queen Mary resumed her royal duties earlier this week, and looked effortlessly chic in a blue Ralph Lauren two-piece.

Our Lifestyle Writer, Katie Daly, gives her take on Mary's back-to-work look, and why it was the perfect attire.

Read here.

Queen Mary in blue pinstriped suit and gold earrings/necklace © Getty Images
Queen Mary visited Headspace Tårnby
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Jordan royals

Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa had a joint engagement this week, as they greeted students who had completed their Tawjihi, which is the final secondary school examination in Jordan. 

Mother-of-two Rajwa looked elegant in an all-white ensemble, while her husband was clad in a suit and an open-collared shirt.

See more photos from their outing.

The couple greeted high achievers who recently completed their Tawjihi© Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan
The couple greeted high achievers who recently completed their Tawjihi
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

The King and Queen arrive

The King and Queen have arrived at the The National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Charles is wearing The Stone Field Marshal Number 4 uniform.

King Charles III looks on as he attends the Service of Remembrance to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day at The National Memorial Arboretum© Getty Images
The King has arrived at The National Memorial Arboretum
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Solemn royals

Charles and Camilla looked deeply moved throughout the service, which included a two-minute silence and a flypast from the Red Arrows.

King Charles III salutes while sat next to Queen Camilla as they attend the Service of Remembrance © Getty Images
The King and Queen looked deeply moved throughout the service
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

The Queen moved to tears

The Queen was visibly moved to tears as one war veteran saluted his 'brave King' during a reading at the service.

Captain Yavar Abbas, who served in the 11th Sikh regiment of the British Indian Army, read an excerpt from his war diaries.

But before his reading, he apologised for going "briefly off-script" to salute "my brave King" for being at the service despite his ongoing cancer treatment. 

Watch the moment below.

WATCH: War veteran's salute to 'My brave King' leaves Camilla in tears

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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Moving service

The King and Queen were later introduced to Captain Yavar Abbas. 

It's certainly been a very emotional and reflective day for all involved. 

You can see all of the images from the service in our gallery, which is being updated throughout the day.

King Charles III shakes hands with veteran Yavar Abbas© Getty Images
King Charles III shakes hands with veteran Yavar Abbas
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

The Queen's look

For those of you interested in royal style, the Queen is wearing a white pleated chiffon dress by Dior and a white Philip Treacy hat. 

And her poignant accessory is The Rifles brooch, the regiment of which she is Colonel-in-Chief. 

Queen Camilla wearing white dress© POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Queen wore white
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Online Royal CorrespondentLondon

Anne's birthday look

We have some more fashion analysis for you now from our Junior Lifestyle Writer, Josh Osman, who regularly reports on the royal family's style.

Find out why he loves Anne's vintage-inspired look, as well as what the portraits say about the Princess Royal's personality. 

Princess Anne in red dress and pearls© John Swannell for Buckingham Palace
Princess Anne pictured in her garden at Gatcombe Park
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Senior Evening Writer

William & Kate's 'gracious' message

The royals are having an incredibly busy today, but the Prince and Princess of Wales have managed to find time to wish their aunt, Princess Anne, a happy birthday for the Princess Royal's 75th milestone.

View post on X

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Senior Evening Writer

Harry and Diana's dinner time disagreement

Everyone's taste buds are different, I, for instance, cannot stand the taste of mushrooms while my parents will happily enjoy them in several dinners. Another parent and child who disagreed at the dinner table was Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana. Discover the dish she would have weekly, but that her son couldn't stand here.

Diana, Princess of Wales  (1961 - 1997) visits the State House in Lagos, Nigeria, March 1990. She is wearing a colourful Bellville Sassoon dress.© Getty Images
Diana loved this 'indulgent' dish
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Senior Evening Writer

The most interesting royal themes of 2025

Over on The HELLO! Royal Club, HELLO! Royal Editor Emily Nash has sent her final newsletter before she takes a richly deserved summer break. 

Throughout the course of 2025, Emily has noticed some really interesting themes emerging: from high level soft diplomacy to the future direction of the royal family. Click the button below to read her analysis and then leave a comment letting her know if you agree (members only post).

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Senior Evening Writer

Fashion superstar

With Love, Meghan is soon landing on screens, but we can't stop obsessing over Meghan's outfits. In fact, one of them had previously been styled out by the Princess of Wales. Discover the story here.

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Senior Evening Writer

Another fashion star

One of our favourite royal ladies when it comes to fashion is of course the Princess of Wales. Relive one of her best pregnancy styles here!

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Senior Evening Writer

Would you want Anne as a mother-in-law

Personally, I think it would be great to call the Princess Royal my mother-in-law and later in the year, Harriet Sperling will be able to do just that as she marries Peter Phillips. See some of Anne's best moments as a mother-in-law in this article by our Online Royal Correspondent, Danielle Stacey.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal kisses son-in-law Mike Tindall © Getty Images
Princess Anne, Princess Royal kisses son-in-law Mike Tindall
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Senior Evening Writer

Thanks for following along!

That's it for this week of royal coverage. Keep an eye on HELLO!'s website for news that comes over the weekend and come back on Monday for a brand-new round-up of the best royal stories of the day.

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