Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward to take break from summer holiday for memorial service

Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward are set to take an unexpected break from their summer holidays to attend a very important memorial service this week. As stated in the Royal Diary, Sophie, 60, and Edward, 61, will step out in Scotland on Friday to attend a service to mark VJ Day - the day when Japan announced its surrender and World War II ended.

This service will take place at the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle. It has been organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland.

The royal couple will not be the only ones to mark the historic day.

King Charles will also be marking the anniversary by delivering an audio message in the morning.

The monarch, 76, and Queen Camilla, 78, will then attend the Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

This service will be followed by a reception, which will see Their Majesties meet Second World War veterans.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will be at Norwich Cathedral on Friday to attend the Far East Prisoners of War VJ Day 80th Anniversary Service at Norwich Cathedral.

They will then attend a second commemorative service in Suffolk that is focused on the Children and Families of the Far East Prisoners of War.

Duchess Sophie has already stepped out this week to meet former Royal Marine James 'Jim' Wren, 105, who survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in 1941 and spent three and a half years interned at a Japanese Prisoner of War camp.

The duchess spent time with the veteran at his Wiltshire care home to hear all about his story.