Royals and veterans mark 80th anniversary of D-Day on both sides of the Channel
Ceremonies were held on both sides of the Channel as royals, dignitaries and veterans commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, as ITV News Europe Editor James Mates reports
The Princess Royal joined veterans and their families at the Bayeux War Cemetery in Normandy on Wednesday for commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Princess Anne told one of the veterans his contribution to the war effort was one of the reasons she performed her public role.
A congregation gathered at the manicured graves of more than 4,000 military casualties where tributes were read out.
A minute’s silence was observed in remembrance of the fallen and readings were given of first-hand accounts of British Forces who were tasked during the Normandy Landings with taking the stretch of coastline codenamed Sword Beach.
During the vigil, held late in the evening, Anne commented on her husband’s uncle, Sub-Lieutenant Keith Symons who, at the age of 20, was in command of three landing craft at Gold Beach in the first wave on D-Day.
The Princess Royal's tribute ended a day of remembrance events where all of the senior royals ahead of the anniversary of the June 6 landings.
The King and Queen appeared overcome with emotion as Charles paid tribute to the "courage, resilience and solidarity" of veterans earlier on Wednesday.
Charles and Camilla joined the Prince of Wales, leading UK politicians and veterans at a major event, hosted by the Ministry of Defence, at Southsea Common in Portsmouth on Wednesday.
Pictures showed the King appear to wipe a tear from his eye during the event, and the Queen appeared emotional following words from Royal Navy serviceman Eric Bateman.
In a speech, His Majesty said: "The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity we have heard today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us, to inspire us and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation."
The Normandy landings were the largest seaborne invasion in history, with the 1944 battle laying the foundation for an Allied victory.
Troops from the UK, the USA, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the beaches at Normandy in northern France on June 6, 1944.
Allied troops departed from Portsmouth on June 5, so the UK and French governments are hosting memorial events at both ports to commemorate the D-Day landings.
In a speech, delivered before the King and Queen arrived, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to the "bravery of those who crossed this sea to liberate Europe" and the loved ones who waited for their return as he read a haunting extract from the diary of a D-Day soldier.
Heir to the throne William, without the Princess of Wales who is away from public duties while she undergoes treatment for cancer, spoke of the families who "watched their loved ones go into battle".
Addressing the crowd, William said: "We will always remember those who served and those who waved them off.
"The mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who watched their loved ones go into battle, unsure if they would ever return.
"Today we remember the bravery of those who crossed this sea to liberate Europe. Those who ensured that Operation Overlord was a success. And those who waited for their safe return."
He said those who fought on D-Day "came from across our nation and from all walks of life to join in the fight against tyranny".
"Many of those that took up arms had never seen combat before, some were still only in their teens," he added.
Over the course of two days, the King, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a slew of other dignitaries, and, most importantly, those who fought on the beaches in 1944 will come together to remember the battle that became the turning point towards an Allied victory.
Some veterans will attend two days of remembrance events in Portsmouth to mark the historic milestone.
On Tuesday, a slew of former D-Day soldiers boarded a ferry to make the journey from Portsmouth to Normandy once again, retracing their steps 80 years ago.
Therefore, D-Day veterans, politicians, the royals, and the general public will commemorate the historic battle at the very ports traversed by Allied soldiers in 1944.
Dame Helen Mirren hosted the commemorations in Portsmouth, with military musicians and special guests leading the ceremony.
Rishi Sunak read an address by Field Marshal Montgomery, which was delivered to the troops ahead of the D-Day landings.
In his contribution to the commemorative event in Portsmouth, the Prime Minister read out the short address which began: "The time has come to deal the enemy a terrific blow in Western Europe. The blow will be struck by the combined sea, land and air forces of the Allies together constituting one great allied team, under the supreme command of General Eisenhower."
It continued: "To us is given the honour of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history; and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of our doings. We have a great and a righteous cause."
Attendees at the D-Day commemorative event joined together in a rendition of the national anthem before observing a gun salute.
Frigate HMS St Albans fired off multiple shots as it passed Southsea Common on the Solent.
There was a brief spell of silence before the King and Queen then departed the event to more applause.
The crowd were then treated to a flypast from The Red Arrows, in formation and trailing the team’s trademark red, white, and blue colours, and an RAF Typhoon Display Team aircraft.
After the D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration event ended, the King, Queen and Prince of Wales spent time meeting veterans in Portsmouth.
They were seen chatting and smiling with veterans in the sunshine at Southsea Common.
The King and Queen were seen patting the hands or touching the arms of several veterans as they moved around the informal gathering.
In the afternoon, hundreds of armed forces personnel parachuted into an historic D-Day drop zone in Normandy.
More than 300 British, Belgian and US and Canadian parachutists landed on fields near Sannerville, which was designated drop zone K on June 6 1944.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, a D-Day veteran leading an act of remembrance saluted fallen soldiers as the Last Post was played at an emotional ceremony in Normandy.
Some 11 veterans with the Spirit of Normandy Trust joined commemorations in Colleville-Montgomery, sitting in the front row of the service with blankets on their laps.
Wednesday's ceremonies also included a commemoration service at Bayeux War Cemetery hosted by the Royal British Legion, before a joint UK-France thanksgiving service at Bayeux Cathedral held by the Ministry of Defence and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
On Wednesday night, as the sun sets, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Bayeux War Cemetery will light up in honour of those who fought on the beaches. The light show will be streamed live on the BBC so all can witness the occasion.
On Thursday, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, commemorations will begin in Normandy at 7.25am, the same time the beach invasion began in 1944.
A military piper will land on the beaches of Arromanches-les-Bains in a Royal Marines landing craft and begin playing a lament in tribute to those who led the beach landings.
The official British commemoration for the 80th anniversary of D-Day will take place at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, where the King will join French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak.
The Prince of Wales will attend events in Normandy including a service hosted by Canada at Juno Beach and an international ceremony hosted by France at Omaha Beach which will be attended by more than 25 heads of state.
The UK’s Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron will also attend the Normandy commemorations.
The Prime Minister will deliver a short speech at Ver-sur-Mer and lead a "heroes' welcome" for the veterans.
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