King Charles's VJ Day message in full as monarch addresses the nation

King Charles is honouring the service and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the Pacific and Far East with a special VJ Day message. In a pre-recorded message, the King has echoed the words of his grandfather, as he reminds the nation, Realms and Commonwealth of King George VI's speech on this day in 1945.

He declared "the war is over", and said: "From the bottom of my heart I thank my Peoples for all they have done, not only for themselves but for mankind."

Today, the 76-year-old monarch, who led VE Day commemorations just three months earlier, described how the heroes of VJ Day "gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected", since victory was made possible by close collaboration between nations, "across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides".

His six-minute audio message also made reference to the experience endured by Prisoners of War, and to the innocent civilians of occupied lands in the region, whose suffering "reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life".

An image of the King sitting at his desk in the Morning Room at Clarence House, where the message was recorded earlier this month, has been released to coincide with the message.

Wearing his grey suit and bright blue 'White Tower' tie, Charles looks directly at the camera as he clasps his hands on top of his script.

A microphone is directly in front of him, while picture frames and ornaments can be seen in the background of the photograph.

For the millions of families gathered around their wireless sets, and for their loved ones still serving far from home, it was the message a battle-weary world had long prayed for. 'The war is over', declared my Grandfather, King George VI, in his address to the nation and Commonwealth on VJ Day eighty years ago today - four short words after six long years of bloodshed, fear and suffering. Seldom can a simple message have resonated with such a potent mix of relief, celebration, and sorrow for those who never lived to see the glow of freedom's new dawn.

On this day of profound remembrance, I speak to you in that same spirit of commemoration and celebration as we honour anew all those whose service and sacrifice saw the forces of liberty prevail.

While that final victory in The Pacific was achieved under the strategic command of our steadfast American allies, the war in South East Asia had reached its climax under the leadership of my great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, from whom I learned so much about the particular horrors and heroism witnessed in those furthest fields of combat. The forces aligned under him comprised over one
million men and women, drawn from many different countries, religions and communities, but united by common purpose and indomitable spirit. Twenty-Nine Victoria Crosses bear eloquent testimony to their valour, but I know full well of the toll it took on so many - measured not only in gravestones, but in the mental and physical scars of those who survived.

Despite the unyielding support of their devoted battlefield commander, General William Slim, the forces on the ground sometimes considered themselves 'the Forgotten Army'. But, as Patron of the now Burma Star Memorial Fund, and having attended one of the great Burma Star Reunions at the Albert Hall with Lord Mountbatten when the Hall was filled with thousands of bemedalled veterans, it has been my privilege to reassure the remaining veterans that they and their fallen comrades shall
never be forgotten.

Nor are they alone in our thoughts today for, high above those monsoon-lashed jungles Allied pilots displayed their own fearless bravery, flying fighters, bombers and transport aircraft into enemy fire and Nature's fury.

We recall, too, the prisoners of war who endured years of brutal captivity: the starvation, disease and cruelty that tested the very limits of human endurance. Innocent civilian populations of occupied territories faced grievous hardships, too. Their experience reminds us that war's true cost extends beyond battlefields, touching every aspect of life - a tragedy all-too vividly demonstrated by conflicts around the world today.

On this landmark anniversary, we should also pause to acknowledge that in the war's final act, an immense price was paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - a price we pray no nation need ever pay again.

But in recalling so much suffering, we must not lose sight of how great was the cause and how sweet the victory. For those heroes of VJ Day gave us more than freedom; they left us the example of how it can and must be protected.

Countries and communities that had never before fought together learned to co-ordinate their efforts across vast distances, faiths and cultural divides. Together they proved that, in times of war and in times of peace, the greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link. That remains a vital lesson for our times.

So to the families of all those who served, and to that sadly dwindling band of veterans among us still, please know that the courage and camaraderie displayed in humanity's darkest hour is a flame that shall blaze for eternity - a beacon that honours our past and guides our future.

Let us therefore pledge to be vigilant guardians of the values they bequeathed to us. And let us, above all, remember the epitaph in the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery on the battlefield of Kohima: 'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today'.

Today, the King and Queen will attend a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, followed by a reception with VJ veterans and their families.

A national two-minute silence will be held, as well as a flypast from both the RAF Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight of historic aircraft.

Elsewhere, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland, while the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral.

The couple will also join a second commemorative service dedicated to the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War in Suffolk.