King Charles makes speech at 80th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy in France
Prince Harry may have missed his final chance to honour the remaining D-Day veterans amid his ongoing feud with the royal family.
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As the world marks the milestone 80th anniversary of D-Day and the number of surviving veterans dwindles, Prince Harry may have missed his last chance to pay his respects.
Previously a favourite at D-Day commemorations, in particular the Founder’s Day Parade where he marked the 75th anniversary in 2019, Prince Harry’s absence continues to be felt.
The founder of the Invictus Games will be downcast at missing the opportunity to honour the last living veterans in person according to royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop.
Dr Dunlop told the Mirror that she believes missing this important occasion will hit the prince, an Afghanistan veteran, hard.
“His particular blend of emotional intelligence and military experience meant he always got the most out of the WWII veterans,” Dr Dunlop said.
“In 2016 he famously wished a couple of nonagenarians well before their annual pilgrimage to Normandy, telling them how much he respected their actions on the beaches, then cheekily adding ‘don’t get into trouble and if you do, don’t get caught!”
A KING’S TEARS
King Charles, who was seen wiping a tear from his eye at the D-Day commemoration, has made time to talk to surviving liberators, most of whom had travelled in wheelchairs for the events.
Veteran Ronald Hendrey, 98, from Clacton-on-Sea on the east coast of England, asked the King about his health.
“He was very nice, he listened to what I was saying and took it in,” said Hendrey of the monarch.
“I asked him how he was doing, he told me he is doing well.”
One veteran presented Queen Camilla with a white rose.
Later the King and Queen Camilla unveiled the new Sir Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning, and thanked those who made it happen for doing a “brilliant job”.
WILLIAM PAYS HIS RESPECTS
At the Government of Canada ceremony on Juno Beach, northwestern France Prince William briefly chatted to veterans and asked one elderly serviceman “memories bringing it all back?” as he pointed to beach homes dotted beyond the dunes, adding, “there’s been a lot of changes.”
He also met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
AUSTRALIA JOINS D-DAY TRIBUTE
At the American cemetery at Omaha Beach with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, Joe and Jill Biden were treated to a flyover of four C130s, with one pulling away from the formation as a mark of respect to the fallen.
Governor-General of Australia David Hurley and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were also among the 2000 attendees.
BIDEN’S CALL FOR UKRAINE SUPPORT
Wearing a black suit and his trademark aviator sunglasses, Mr Biden called for support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Normandy for the commemoration of D-Day – when more than 150,000 Allied soldiers arrived in France to free western Europe of Nazi rule.
Mr Biden compared the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the Nazi occupation of France in the 1940s.
“Make no mistake, autocrats in the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine to see if we let this illegal aggression go unchecked,” the US president said.
“We cannot let that happen, to surrender to bullies. Bowing down to dictators is simply unthinkable.
“We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago – they never go away,” he added.
“We’re living at a time when democracy is more at risk across the world than any point since the end of World War Two,” he said.
WILLIAM IMPRESSIVE WITH WORLD LEADERS
Prince William led the official international ceremony of world leaders at Omaha Beach as King Charles and Queen Camilla left Caen-Carpiquet airport for their private return flight to BAE’s Warton Aerodrome near Preston in Lancashire.
Curiously, their motorcade included an ambulance.
Standing in for the King, Prince William shook hands with Mr Biden and Mr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena who was cheered as he arrived at the ceremony attended by 25 heads of states.
This was King Charles’ first trip overseas since his cancer diagnosis.
Leading events with French President Emmanuel Macron at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, the emotional King told veterans: “How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that the generation of men and women in the United Kingdom, and other allied nations, did not flinch when the moment came to face the test.
“On the beaches of Normandy, in the seas beyond and in the skies overhead, forces carried out their duty with a humbling sense of resolve and determination – qualities so characteristic of that remarkable wartime generation they many of them never came home,” he said.
Pausing, and speaking partly in French, he urged free nations to fight tyranny.
“Many of them never came home,” he continued, adding, “They lost their lives, on the D-Day landing grounds, or in the many battles that followed.
“It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time.
“We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again, across the decades.
“Free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny.
“Let us commit to carrying forward their resounding message of courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom tempered by the duty of responsibilities to others for the benefit of younger generations.
“Our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal,” King Charles said.
PRINCE WILLIAM MAKES D-DAY SPEECH
Prince William praised the “bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian troops,” who “gave so much 80 years ago.”
“Far from home they stormed these very sand dunes behind me, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of British troops,” he said.
“Standing here today in peaceful silence, it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into the fury of battle that very day.
“The assault on D-Day remains the most ambitious military operation in history. The events of that windy, grey day, ultimately led to the liberation of Europe, but it came at a heavy cost.
“We continue to honour every Canadian, who gave so much.
“Canada and the UK continue to stand, side-by-side as we did in 1944. Just as strong together, 80 years later.
Ensuring the memory of those who fought for freedom lives on, is why we’ve come together again today – to say thank you.”
PRINCE EDWARD SHEDS TEARS AT D-DAY EVENT
Prince Edward was seen wiping away tears as he attended the D-Day commemorations.
King Charles’ younger brother was overcome with emotion during the emotionally charged occasion, with his wife Sophie by his side.
During the service, the couple heard from 97-year-old Alfred Booker, who was 16 when he was involved in landing troops at Sword Beach.
“I can still see them young men getting killed right left and centre,” Mr Booker said.
“Of course these lads wherever these shells landed, if they were near them, they would tear them to pieces, so you didn’t see a man lying there.
“They had to be stopped and we did, we helped stop them.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT MACRON GIVES D-DAY TRIBUTE
French President Macron said “nobody in France” has forgotten the “sacrifices” made on June 6 1944.
“Your presence means a lot to everybody,” he said, addressing King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Turning to Wren officer Christian Lamb, a veteran officer in the Women’s Royal Naval Service who helped plan the D-Day landings from Churchill’s secret war rooms in London, he said, “You were one of the heroes in the shadows.”
In 1939 she received a telegram from her father, an admiral, ordering her back to London saying war was imminent.
“Your presence today is so important. That day was one of the most traumatic moments of your life.
“You were signed to help the D Day landings from Winston Churchill’s secret war rooms.
Originally published as King Charles makes speech at 80th anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy in France
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