King Charles has led commemorations for the 80th anniversary of V-J Day, recalling the moment his grandfather, King George VI, told a “battle-weary world” the war was over.

In a heartfelt address, the King said four short words after six long years of bloodshed carried “a potent mix of relief, celebration and sorrow.”

He honoured the sacrifices of the “Forgotten Army” in Southeast Asia and the suffering of prisoners of war and civilians.

The King praised Allied unity, declaring: “The greatest weapons of all are not the arms you bear, but the arms you link.”

He also reflected on the “immense price” paid by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, praying such loss would never be repeated.