Prince William’s moving nod to absent Kate during D-Day anniversary event

Prince William revealed a personal detail about his wife during a moving appearance at a D-Day anniversary event.

Prince William spoke warmly about Princess Kate and her grandmother today after D-Day commemorations.

The Prince of Wales joined his father, Queen Camilla and other leaders as they stood alongside war heroes in a moving anniversary event at Portsmouth, reports The Sun.

The King and William took to the stage, paying tribute to the veterans and their families.

Afterwards, they met with some of the heroes.

There, William spoke to a woman about Princess Kate – and her grandmother.

Chatting to a woman, who was thought to be a Bletchley Park codebreaker, William said: “My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you.

“Catherine only found out at the end of her life.”

Valerie Middleton, Kate’s grandmother, worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park which broke the Enigma code.

William spoke with some war heroes at the event. Picture: Andrew Matthews/Pool/AFP

He referenced his wife’s “code-breaker" grandmother. Picture: Paul Campbell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The prince spoke to other veterans, too – thanking them for their service and telling them how special it had been.

He said: “I found it very moving, all the stories and letters, even now 80 years later.

When one hero said to William ‘thank you’, the Prince of Wales replied: “No, we are here to thank you.”

William said: “We are here to say a big thank you and to all your colleagues and friends who didn’t make it back.”

The King was introduced to a 99-year-old paratrooper who turns 100 in August, and Charles said: “I’ll have your card ready.”

Earlier in the day the monarch made his first speech since his cancer diagnosis.

He stood tall with medals on his chest and Camilla at his side, telling veterans and their families: “We are all eternally in their debt.”

The King, who proudly wore medals on his chest, said: “The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity which you 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.”

Charles said it was our privilege to hear the stories, continuing: “It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”

William stood not far from some of the country’s last surviving veterans as they looked back on the campaign that opened the path to peace and freedom in Europe.

The royals joined other high-profile figures at the commemorative event. Picture: Andrew Matthews – Pool/Getty Images

He also took to the stage, saying how “deeply honoured” he was to be joining them today.

The prince told the crowds: “Our guests of honour today are those veterans from the Normandy landing, that 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.”

The prince then read out moving letters from diaries of war heroes, before adding: “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.”

Dame Helen led the moving event, praising the bravery of the veterans sat nearby.

She told the masses: “The presence today of some of those who contributed to that remarkable venture is an extraordinary privilege.

“Your bravery remains as inspiring now as it was eight decades ago. Thank you.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.