NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh<\/a> knew just what to say to a 105-year-old veteran who surprised the group with his candid answer to her question about his military service.\n<\/p>\n On Aug. 12, Prince Edward<\/a>‘s wife visited James “Jim” Wren, a 105-year-old veteran of the Royal Marines, at his care home in Salisbury, Wiltshire.\n<\/p>\n Sophie, 60, made the stop as patron of The Java Far East Prisoner of War Club 1942 in an outing timed to the upcoming 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Aug. 15. VJ Day is shorthand for Victory over Japan Day, commemorating the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in 1945.\n<\/p>\n Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh meets James Wren on Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Aaron Chown-WPA Pool\/Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n As seen in a video shared to X<\/a> by royal reporter Cameron Walker of GB News, Sophie asked Wren, “What attracted you to the Navy?”\n<\/p>\n “Nothing attracted me to the Navy, I didn’t want in the Navy,” Wren said, which made everyone laugh.\n<\/p>\n “Fair enough!” Sophie said in response.\n<\/p>\n Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh meets James Wren on Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Aaron Chown-WPA Pool\/Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n According to the Royal Marines Charity<\/a>, Wren was 19 when he first tried to enlist and found a home with the Royal Marines through his uncle.\n<\/p>\n Keeping the conversation going, Sophie asked, “Did you find that you adapted to the water quite well?”\n<\/p>\n “Oh yes, I did,” said Wren.\n<\/p>\n The Duchess of Edinburgh met with the veteran and his family over a cup of tea to hear about his experiences in the war and his personal story. He was just one of a few survivors of the sinking of the HMS Repulse and was held as a prisoner of war until the end of World War II.\n<\/p>\n Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh meets James Wren on Aug. 12, 2025.<\/p>\n Aaron Chown-WPA Pool\/Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2021, it was reported that the future King Charles<\/a> commissioned a portrait of Wren to be hung at Buckingham Palace in London.\n<\/p>\n