“Before reading the excerpt, I make an apology for briefly going off the script to salute my brave King, who is here with his beloved Queen in spite of the fact he’s under treatment for cancer,” he said.

The veteran, himself a cancer survivor of 25 years, added that he hoped his words might offer comfort. The tribute drew warm applause from the audience — and seemed to move Camilla to tears, her clasped hands lifting to her face as she blinked away emotion.

Public reaction

Viewers at home also picked up on the poignant moment. “Amazing man at the VJ commemoration just owned it with an off-script tribute to King Charles. Bless him and all of them,” one user wrote on X.

Another said simply: “What an incredible tribute. He grabbed his chance and got applause for his words.”