Kate and William's Plans For VJ Day Revealed and Royal Fans Aren’t Impressed with Their Work Ethic
The royal family is all set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ (Victory over Japan) Day on August 15. On August 7, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend royal engagements throughout the day, while Prince William and Kate Middleton’s participation was notably absent. Following the announcement, royal watchers speculated about possible tension behind Palace doors and voiced criticism over the Waleses’ casual work ethic.
VJ Day, observed annually on August 15, marks the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces during World War II, following the catastrophic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. As reported by GB News, Charles, on the anniversary, will deliver an audio message in the morning to commemorate the end of the war. After his speech, the King and Queen will attend the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, where they will meet with WWII veterans during the reception. While the itinerary for other senior royals was detailed, the Prince and Princess of Wales were absent from the Palace’s schedule. Princess Anne, whose birthday coincides with the event, was also not listed among the royal attendees.
After royal fans picked up on the Palace's announcement for VJ Day, they took to Reddit to voice their concerns over William and Middleton's absence. A critic slammed, "I honestly believe they will be the end of the monarchy. Royalty in 2025 is not at all taken seriously or with deference." Chiming in, another echoed, "So, let me get something straight here. Can go skiing (hard on the body). Can also go play on a mega yacht in the Greek air, but somehow can’t show for this!" A netizen agreeing, meanwhile, quipped, "At this point, William and Kate's reign will be an email once a year from their vacation destination." The criticism comes after reports of Anne having carried out far more royal engagements in recent months as opposed to William, the heir to the throne, who has been selective, picking up mostly projects close to his heart. As the comments poured in, a fan hence trolled, "William took Charlotte to the women's football after all, and Catherine's staff released some early animated videos. They must be exhausted. They need a holiday."
According to Marie Claire, William and Middleton, who allegedly vacationed on a superyacht in Greece last month, are now spending time with their three children for the summer in Scotland. They are currently lodged at Balmoral Castle, a royal residence in Aberdeenshire, which has been a traditional retreat for the royal family during the holidays. Meanwhile, Anne is reportedly set to embark on a ten-day sailing trip for her birthday with Sir Timothy Lawrence, which explains her absence from the event.
As for the rest of the senior royals, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are also confirmed to attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral. Meanwhile, Edward and Duchess Sophie will attend a service at the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, organized by the Royal British Legion Scotland. The event will conclude with a reception for veterans at Windsor Castle in the Autumn.