King Charles III will join veterans in Britain and France today and tomorrow to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, even while undergoing ongoing cancer treatment.
The King said in a special video, which will form part of a BBC film to be broadcast today, that his grandfather had wanted to visit troops on D-Day.
He says this as he reads aloud his grandfather's war diary. He said, “My grandfather was determined to go. “He became very frustrated when he wouldn’t let go after a few days.”
The Prince of Wales arrived at a memorial event in Portsmouth this morning and shook hands with the Prime Minister and ministers.
Over the course of two days, Charles will be joined by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other dignitaries and, most importantly, those who fought on the beaches in 1944 will come together to remember the battle that was the turning point in the Allied victory. .
Prince William will attend events in Normandy attended by heads of state from 25 countries, including an event hosted by Canada on Juno Beach and an international event hosted by France on Omaha Beach.
The Princess Royal will also participate as Colonel of the Royal Regina Rifles. She will unveil the Regimental Rifleman Statute alongside her husband, Lt. Gen. Tim Lawrence, and later attend a reception with former soldiers.
Dame Helen Mirren praises the bravery of veterans.
At a D-Day commemoration event in Portsmouth, Lady Helen Mirren praised the bravery of veterans in attendance.
She said: “It is a special privilege to have some of those who have contributed to that amazing work here today.
“Your courage is as inspiring today as it was 80 years ago. thank you.”
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 11:17
William and Sunak laugh as they chat at memorial service
The Prince of Wales and Rishi Sunak chat as they wait for memorial services to begin.
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 11:15
The Prince of Wales laughs while hanging out with the Prime Minister at the 80th anniversary of D-Day
The Prince of Wales looked jovial as he shook hands with Rishi Sunak and political leaders as he arrived at a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth.
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 11:03
Prince of Wales arrives at D-Day commemorations
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 11:00
Prime Minister's wife Akshata Murty speaks to David Cameron at a memorial event.
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 10:55
In pictures: Political leaders and ministers gather in Portsmouth for D-Day events
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 10:42
The king and queen are in awe of the soccer boots of a war veteran.
When hosting D-Day veterans at Buckingham Palace, Queen Camilla asked 100-year-old RAF codebreaker Bernard Morgan, the youngest RAF non-commissioned officer to land at Gold Beach: “What are your memories of D-Day itself?”
Mr Morgan, from Crewe, Cheshire, replied: “When we got out of the landing ship tanks and landed on the beach, the Army was there collecting the poor soldiers who had drowned in the initial landing.”
He showed King Charles and Camilla the sturdy brown football boots he had strapped to his rucksack so they could play whenever they could take their mind off their surroundings, and revealed that they had once played on a voyage to Normandy.
“These are the football boots I carried with me throughout the war. “I played 12 football games, including one on the landing craft to Normandy,” he said.
The king said to him: “I can’t believe it… It's really fantastic. “It’s amazingly well preserved.”
Mr Morgan joked that it was “well past its sell by date” and revealed that the Army v RAF match en route to D-Day ended in a draw.
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 09:50
When Charles Met Becks: How did King and Golden Balls' friendship blossom over their shared love of bees?
David Beckham has revealed they exchanged beekeeping tips when they met Prince Charles before the former England captain was appointed as an ambassador for the King Foundation.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, 48, held a private meeting with Charles at his Highgrove home last month to discuss his new role at the charity.
He said: “On my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens, it was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majesty's Foundation and compare information about beekeeping!”
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 09:11
The King and Queen hear touching memories from D-Day veterans at the palace.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, the King and Queen invited four D-Day veterans to Buckingham Palace to hear touching personal stories and view their poignant memorabilia.
Soccer boots on the strap of a military backpack, dog tags still covered in blood, and a precious photo of his wife were among the souvenirs he shared with Charles and Camilla.
Reading aloud from his grandfather's handwritten diary, Charles detailed what King George VI had written on D-Day in June 1944, covering the breaking news of a “successful landing.”
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 08:49
On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a veteran says the landing should 'never, ever be forgotten.'
A 100-year-old veteran said D-Day should “never, ever be forgotten” as the country prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
Corporal Cyril “Lou” Byrd was a 20-year-old tank driver with the 5th Royal Tank Regiment when he landed at Gold Beach around noon on 6 June 1944.
Speaking ahead of the 80th anniversary of the landings on Thursday, he said the landings helped bring peace to Europe by contributing to the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Mariam Zakir-HusseinJune 5, 2024 08:35