Members of the royal family came together with Second World War veterans during an incredibly emotional two days last week to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were visibly moved as they listened to harrowing stories from the Allied forces’ legendary invasion to liberate France. At a commemorative event in Portsmouth on Wednesday, they remembered the immense sacrifices made by so many.
A day later, on the anniversary of D-Day, they were at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer in northern France, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Dressed in his Field Marshal No 4 Tropical Service dress uniform, the King, 75, paid tribute to the “remarkable wartime generation”. He told those gathered, “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.”
Standing next to Queen Camilla – who wore an elegant white coat dress and a matching hat – he added, “Our ability to learn from their stories first-hand diminishes, but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for us all, can never diminish.”
The raw emotion of the two days for the King and Queen, who share a deep connection to the Armed Forces, was plain to see.
Speaking exclusively to OK!, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explains, “The King, like so many others of his generation, had two parents who played their part in the Second World War… so the D-Day commemorations resonate with people of the King’s age more than with younger generations.
“We don’t make enough of the association between the monarchy and the Armed Forces. It is a significant relationship and one that the King and his family take extremely seriously. Between them they are patrons or have honorary roles of around 600 military regiments, organisations and charities.”
Denne historien er fra June 17, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 17, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities
