King Charles shares sweet moment with veteran who 'went off script' with emotional gesture at VJ Day service
Former serviceman had moved Queen Camilla to tears
King Charles shared a touching moment with Captain Yavar Abbas, the VJ Day veteran who went off script earlier today, after the remembrance service concluded, it has emerged.
Mr Abbas, believed to be 104, read from his war diaries earlier today (Friday, August 15) as part of the commemorative service at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.
However, the writer and translator paused to offer apparently unscheduled, personal remarks to the king, which appeared to leave a moved Queen Camilla blinking away tears.
What did VJ Day veteran Yavar Abbas say to King Charles?
Offering a salute to the monarch, Mr Abbas – who served in the 11th Sikh regiment of the British Indian Army – apologised for taking a moment to go off script.
He hailed King Charles as “my brave king” and went on to say the monarch was attending the service “with his beloved queen in spite of the fact he’s under treatment for cancer“.
Mr Abbas also indicated he has experienced cancer himself, adding: “And if it provides any comfort, of which I’ve been rid for the past 25 years.”
Viewers also found Mr Abbas’ comments both poignant and inspiring, despite supposedly being unplanned.
One reacted on social media: “Amazing man at the VJ commemoration just owned it with an off script tribute to King Charles. Bless him and all of them.”
King Charles meets Yavar Abbas
As it turns out, it seems King Charles managed to spend time chatting with Mr Abbas afterwards. The meeting was filmed on a phone behind the scenes by royal reporter Rebecca English.
The footage showed them shaking hands for over 30 seconds, with Mr Abbas placing his free, left hand on his and the king’s clasped hands.
Although background noise prevents much of what they said to each other from being unintelligible, King Charles later gestured for Mr Abbas to sit, and it sounded like he said: “I haven’t had a cup of tea.”
A cup and saucer was promptly placed beside the monarch as he took a seat. And as their conversation continued, Mr Abbas appeared to introduce the king to his relatives.
Additionally, the king appeared to make mention of King George VI, who reigned during World War Two but died in 1952 when Charles was just three.
It also sounded like King Charles told Mr Abbas: “I can just remember my grandfather, but only just. And they told all the stories about Burma and my great uncle.”
How royal fans reacted
X users were delighted by King Charles and Mr Abbas spending time together.
“Touching stuff. We have a good king,” one person posted.
A second agreed: “That’s a touching moment. 105 years old and still honouring history. Respect.”
Read more: Queen Camilla’s tears as veteran ‘goes off script’ to make remark about King Charles’ cancer
“I loved seeing this gentleman go off-script with such sincere, heartfelt comments,” wrote another.
Meanwhile, someone else added: “How smart Mr Abbas looks. Just lovely.”
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