Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that King Charles III will embark on his first overseas journey since his cancer diagnosis, attending an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
The 75-year-old monarch, who recently resumed public duties, will participate in a commemorative ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial in northern France on 6 June, according to a statement.
The memorial, situated near Gold Beach, one of the key landing sites where Allied troops landed on 6 June 1944, will host the event.
Accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, and elder son, Prince William, Charles will join Canadian veterans at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer, along the Channel coast.
Prince William will subsequently represent his father at an international commemorative ceremony at Omaha Beach, where US troops made their landing, joining over 25 heads of state.
Following their attendance at the UK’s national commemorative event in Portsmouth on 5 June, Charles and Camilla will travel to France. Last year, they undertook a three-day state visit to the country.
Both the UK and France will witness a strong presence of senior royals during the anniversary, likely one of the final occasions to include World War II veterans. As the head of state and commander-in-chief of the British armed forces, Charles holds a significant role, having served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
His son William, who formerly served as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, transitioned into a full-time royal role.
However, notably absent from the commemorations will be Catherine, William’s wife, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer and was last seen at a public event in December.
Charles disclosed his cancer diagnosis in February, with recent updates indicating positive progress in his treatment, allowing him to resume official duties. Last week, he attended a Buckingham Palace garden party, a commemoration service at St Paul’s Cathedral, and unveiled a new official portrait of himself.
