Prince Harry arranged for a secret tribute to his late grandfather, Prince Philip, during the 80th anniversary of VJ Day commemorations. The Duke of Sussex had a friend place a wreath of red poppies and a personal letter at the Burma Star Memorial in Staffordshire on August 15, 2025.
The tribute was left at the National Memorial Arboretum after King Charles and Queen Camilla had departed from the official service. Harry’s gesture was timed to avoid being distracted from the formal commemorations that honored 33 veterans aged between 96 to 105 who served in the Far East and Pacific during World War II.
According to GB News, in his letter addressed to the “Forgotten Army,” Harry wrote that the anniversary carried an “added layer of meaning” for him because of Prince Philip’s service in the Pacific campaign. The Duke of Sussex praised his grandfather’s quiet humility about his wartime years and noted how deeply Philip respected those who served alongside him in that theater of war.
Prince Philip’s wartime service in the Pacific theater
Prince Philip served as First Lieutenant of HMS Whelp during World War II and was present in Tokyo Bay when Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945. The late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in 2021 at age 99, was second-in-command of the destroyer that escorted the USS Missouri during the historic surrender ceremony.
Prince Harry paid a special tribute to 2nd war veterans through a personal letter and wreath at the Burma Star Memorial.
— Zandi Sussex (@ZandiSussex) August 18, 2025
“For me, this anniversary carries an added layer of meaning. My late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, served in the Pacific campaign.” pic.twitter.com/kAk6VqqZyZ
Harry’s letter began by recognizing the significance of VJ Day as “the day the guns finally fell silent across the world, the true end of the Second World War.” He praised the veterans of the Far East campaign, writing that their “courage and endurance in the Far East campaign were anything but forgettable.”
The Duke of Sussex concluded his tribute by saying he was “humbled by your example, proud of your service and dedication, and profoundly grateful for what you endured.” The letter, which featured Harry’s cypher of an H under a crown, was signed simply “Harry, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.”
This gesture comes amid ongoing tensions between Harry and the royal family, with the duke living in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children. Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army including two tours in Afghanistan, has maintained his commitment to supporting veterans through initiatives like the Invictus Games. The secret tribute demonstrates his continued respect for military service members and his personal connection to his grandfather’s wartime legacy, even as he remains estranged from the royal family.
