Rishi Sunak’s election campaigning and King Charles’s convalescence from cancer will be put on hold for 48 hours, as the two men join veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of D-day on the south coast of England and in Normandy.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged to ensure D-Day lessons are taught if he becomes Prime Minister, also attends the event.
The King greeted the crowd gathered in Portsmouth with a wave of his hand as he and the Queen took to the stage. He told the audience:
“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. It is our privilege to hear that testimony, but our role is not purely passive. It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”
Prince William said he was “honoured” when he spoke on stage at the Remembrance Day event. He said:
“We will always remember those who served and those who waved them off.”
Memories of veterans
Wednesday’s UK commemorations, which included readings, music and reenactments from the period, also featured recollections from D-Day veterans, mainly in pre-recorded videos.
However, Roy Hayward — who was aged 19 at the time — took to the stage to speak of his emotions eight decades on. The veteran, who later in WWII lost both his legs below the knees to amputation, said:
“I always considered myself one of the lucky ones that survived, because so many of us didn’t. I represent the men and women who put their lives on hold to go and fight for democracy and this country.”
He also added:
“I’m here to honor their memory and their legacy, and to ensure that their story is never forgotten.”
Other politicians on D-Day
Rishi Sunak also turned to the words of a soldier to make his contribution. He read out Field Marshal Montgomery’s address to the troops before the D-Day landings.
First Minister John Swinney represents Scotland at the ceremony. Mr. Swinney paid tribute to the “brave men and women” who took part in the military operation during the World War II before attending the commemoration.
The event was hosted by Dame Helen Mirren, with military musicians and special guests leading the opening ceremony.
In Normandy, the Princess Royal will join British and Canadian military veterans for the commemoration. Princess Anne is taking part in a series of events to honour the sacrifices of Allied troops on the anniversary on the eve of the decisive invasion of Europe.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden landed in France to take part in commemorative events to mark D-Day. Mr. Biden will spend five days in the country. He is due to give a high-profile speech and hold an official state visit with President Emmanuel Macron.
As the sun sets on Wednesday evening, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Bayeux War Cemetery will be lit in honour of those who fought on the beaches.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky is set to deliver a speech to the National Assembly on June 7, the last day of the European election campaign. This manoeuvre makes the opposition shudder.
Olivier Marleix, chairman of the Republicans (LR) group, denounced the visit as “regrettable 48 hours before the European elections” in the National Assembly on June 4. Visiting Paris as part of D-Day commemorations to which Russia was not invited, Zelensky will appear before the Assembly for the first time in two years.
History of D-Day
Troops from Britain, the US, Canada and France attacked German forces on the beaches of Normandy in northern France on June 6 1944. The Normandy landings were the largest naval invasion in history, and the World War II battle laid the groundwork for the Allied victory in Europe.
Fourteen nations are recognised as having contributed to the success of the Normandy landings on June 6 1944: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, the UK and the US.
Of those, 15 nations, including what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Germany will be represented at the national commemorative events in Portsmouth and Normandy.
Of the 156,115 allied troops who landed in Normandy by sea and air on June 6, 4,300 British and Canadians were wounded, killed or went missing in action, along with 6,000 Americans.
