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The Queen has delivered a special message expressing her thanks to those “who fought so valiantly” during the Second World War in commemoration of VJ Day .
Saturday 15 August marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, otherwise known as Victory in Japan Day.
The event marks the occasion on 15 August 1945 when Japan officially signed its surrender against the Allied forces.
In honour of the occasion, Queen Elizabeth II has delivered a commemorative statement, in which she and the Duke of Edinburgh gave their “grateful thanks” for all those who fought across the Commonwealth.
The monarch said: “Today we mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day, which brought victory for the Allies and finally marked the end of the Second World War.
“Those of us who remember the conclusion of the Far East campaign, whether on active service overseas, or waiting for news at home, will never forget the jubilant scenes and overwhelming sense of relief.”
The Queen said that “amongst the joy” at the end of the Second World War, which occurred when she was 19 years old, the “terrible devastation” that the war brought and “the cost borne by so many” was also remembered.
VE Day 75th anniversary celebrationsShow all 34 1 /34VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations The British Royal Air Force Red Arrows conduct a fly past over the statue of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE Day) in Britain
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A restored Second World War amphibious DUKW vehicle drives through Helpston near Peterborough
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations WWII veteran Bernard Morgan, aged 96, poses as he takes part in the VE day two minute silence outside his home and alongside neighbours on the street in Crewe
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations The Royal Air Force Red Arrows conduct a flypast over London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Maayan Gamzo-Letova and Liron Gamzo-Letova at their home in Thorner, West Yorkshire
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Graham looks on as his wife Sue Gillson untangles a flag on their roof on their home in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Members of the public take part in a 2 minute silence at the cenotaph in Liverpool
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations The British Royal Air Force Red Arrows conduct a fly past over London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A veteran and army personnel at The Cenotaph in Westminster after a two minute silence on the 75th Anniversary of VE Day in London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Officers and soldiers of Household Division take part in a 2 minute silence at Horse Guards Parade, St James's Park in central London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Ralph Harvey, 89, sits on a mobility scooter as he joins in his street's celebrations in Duncan Avenue, Redcar
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations VE Day bunting seen outside a house on the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day in Greenwich, London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Prince of Wales pauses after laying a wreath at the Balmoral War Memorial, in Scotland
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Residents in Thorner, West Yorkshire, during a day of events to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Veteran flag bearers gather at the Naval War Memorial in Plymouth
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations British RAF veteran George Sutherland, 98, right, gives the thumbs up to people who came out to cheer him on during his VE Day charity walk to raise funds for Talbot House in Poperinge, Belgium. Sutherland walked from the Lijssenthoek war cemetery to Talbot house to raise money for the club which is currently closed due to coronavirus lockdown regulations. The club, founded in 1915 was a place for British soldiers to rest during both the First and Second World Wars
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations The Royal Air Force Red Arrows flying past the Runnymede Memorial in Egham, Surrey
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A Bugler plays the Last Post as the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery carry out a socially distanced parade of 20 soldiers with their first world war Guns to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day with a 2 minute silence in Woolwich
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Royal British Legion standard bearer Richard Hignett lowers the standard during the two minutes' silence outside his home in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Sergeant David Beveridge fires a Gun Salute from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, to mark the start of the two-minute silence
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations British RAF veteran George Sutherland, 98, holds up a photo of himself as a World War II aircraft mechanic
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A wreath-laying service to coincide with the nationwide 2 minute silence, held in Westminster Hall, House of Parliament in central London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Prime Minister Boris Johnson observes a two-minute silence in Downing Street
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Scottish Minister Nicola Sturgeon observes a two-minute silence alongside (left to right) British Army Corporal Fiona Williamson-Jones, Royal Navy Lieutenant Donovan Davy, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM, British Army Warrant Officer Class 1 Edinburgh Garrison Sergeant-Major Scott McFadden and RAF Flying Officer Luke Hilton outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Sheila Daphne, 68, waves to a friend as she joins in her street's celebrations in Duncan Avenue, Redcar
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Lou Myers, 92, at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A man takes a picture of the Commando Memorial on the 75th Anniversary of VE Day in Lochaber, Scotland
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Railway staff at Waverley Station mark the 75th anniversary of VE day with a two-minute silence in Edinburgh
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Members of ambulance services watch as officers and soldiers of Household Division take part in a 2 minute silence and watch the wreath-laying ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, St James's Park
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Weaths placed at the foot of St Saviour's War Memorial in Borough High Street
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations People ride on a scooter in front of Guards Memorial in St James's Park
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations Michelle Martin, 58 (centre), her daughter Emma Martin, 37 (left) and their tenant Sara Vottero, 33 (right), observe a nationwide two minute silence outside their home in Bermondsey, London
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VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations A wreath at Waverley Station
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“Prince Philip and I join many around the world in sending our grateful thanks to the men and women from across the Commonwealth, and Allied nations, who fought so valiantly to secure the freedoms we cherish today.”
Queen Elizabeth II ended her statement by saying: “May the memory of their sacrifice and bravery remain with us always.”
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