JOINING POIGNANT EVENTS IN PORTSMOUTH AND NORMANDY THE KING AND QUEEN ARE MOVED TO TEARS AS WORLD MARKS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY

‘We will always remember those who served’ The Prince of Wales

- EMILY NASH

Under blue skies in the UK and in Normandy, the King and Queen, together with other members of the royal family, foreign royals and world leaders, led commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

In a series of deeply moving ceremonies, tributes were paid to both the many lives lost and those forever changed by the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944.

At the heart of it all were the last surviving veterans of the audacious and risk-laden campaign, which turned the tide of the Second World War in favour of the Allied forces.

Commemorations began in Portsmouth, where tens of thousands of troops had gathered eight decades ago on the eve of the biggest sea and airborne invasion in history.

More than 6,000 people watched a poignant concert, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren on Southsea Common, that brought to life survivors’ memories, along with the final letters of some who perished, reflecting on their bravery and sacrifice.

A DAY OF EMOTIONS

The King and Queen appeared moved to tears at points, wiping their eyes, and there were standing ovations as several of the 21 veterans in attendance appeared on stage to be hailed as heroes.

The Prince of Wales, attending without the Princess, who is continuing her recovery from cancer, read an extract from the diary of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment’s Captain Alas ta ir Bannerman, written to his wife on the morning of the landings.

Prince William told the flag-waving crowd he was “deeply honoured” to be taking part, adding: “We will always remember those who served.”

The King was joined on stage by his wife, who looked reflective as he gave a powerful speech, saying: “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 – now, tragically, dwindling to so few.