King Charles III led the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings on Wednesday, joined by British veterans, senior royals, and political leaders.
The 75-year-old monarch, who recently resumed public engagements while battling cancer, spoke at a remembrance event in Portsmouth, England, organized by the Ministry of Defence.
On June 5, 1944, Allied troops began departing from Portsmouth and other southern English ports, crossing the Channel to land on the beaches of northern France the following morning.
“As we give thanks for all those who gave so much to win the victory whose fruits we still enjoy to this day, let us once again commit ourselves always to remember, cherish and honor those who served that day,” Charles told the flag-waving audience.
As head of state, Charles is the commander-in-chief of Britain’s armed forces, having served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. He and Queen Camilla will travel to France on Thursday for further commemorations.
Senior royals, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and WWII veterans will join dozens of heads of state, including US President Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron, at services across Normandy. This will be Charles’s first overseas visit since his cancer diagnosis was announced in February.
‘Lucky’
Wednesday’s UK commemorations featured readings, music, and reenactments from the period, with recollections from D-Day veterans, mainly in pre-recorded videos. However, Roy Hayward, who was 19 at the time, took to the stage to share his emotions eight decades on.
“I always considered myself one of the lucky ones that survived, because so many of us didn’t,” said Hayward, who later lost both his legs below the knees to amputation during WWII. “I represent the men and women who put their lives on hold to go and fight for democracy and this country. I’m here to honor their memory and their legacy, and to ensure that their story is never forgotten.”
Prince William, an RAF search and rescue pilot before becoming a full-time royal, also addressed the assembled dignitaries. “Today, we remember the bravery of those who crossed the sea to liberate Europe, those who waited for their safe return,” he said after reading an extract from a veteran’s diary.
Political leaders paused their general election campaigning ahead of the July 4 poll to attend the event. Prime Minister Sunak penned a message in the event program and read out a message delivered to all D-Day troops. Labour opposition leader Keir Starmer watched from the audience, just hours after he and Sunak clashed in the first live TV debate of the election campaign
