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D-Day: King praises veterans as world leaders meet WW2 survivors at Normandy anniversary events

US President Joe Biden took aim at Russia and Vladimir Putin in his speech, and the world leaders also heard from veterans themselves, including one who paid an emotional tribute to the friend who saved his life.

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D-Day anniversary highlights
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The world has marked 80 years since D-Day with the King and Joe Biden among leaders who travelled to Normandy to join veterans in commemorating the solemn anniversary.

The King addressed an emotional crowd at the British national commemorative event on Thursday morning in Ver-sur-Mer, France, where he shared his "profound sense of gratitude" to those who served in the Second World War.

Veterans could be seen wiping their eyes with tissues as the King paid tribute to the "remarkable wartime generation" at a memorial containing the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who died on D-Day.

"How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the United Kingdom and other Allied nations did not flinch when the moment came to face that test," he said.

Follow live: Normandy commemorations mark 80 years since D-Day

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King: 'Many of them never came home'

"On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond and in the skies overhead, our armed forces carried out their duty with a humbling sense of resolve and determination, qualities so characteristic of that remarkable wartime generation.

"Very many of them never came home, they lost their lives on the D-Day landing grounds or in the many battles that followed."

More on D-day

Charles III greets meets D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 98, during a commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day Pic: AP
Image: Charles greets D-Day veteran Albert Keir, 98. Pic: AP
PABest (left to right) King Charles III, President of France Emmanual Macron, Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron ahead of the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Picture date: Thursday June 6, 2024.
Image: Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Camilla and Brigitte Macron. Pic: PA

After his speech, the King - who was wearing his Field Marshal No 4 Tropical Service dress uniform, with medals and decorations - saluted during the Last Post and the silence that followed.

British veterans also spoke at the memorial event including one who said he "became tearful" while paying tribute to a friend who saved his life.

Read more:
WW2 veteran dies on way to Normandy
D-Day veterans share their stories

Queen Camilla speaks with veteran Arthur Oborne during a lunch following the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Thursday June 6, 2024.  Pic: AP
Image: Camilla speaks with Arthur Oborne at a lunch following the UK national commemorative event. Pic: AP
Pic: PA
King Charles III and Queen Camilla appear emotional during the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Picture date: Thursday June 6, 2024.
Image: Charles and Camilla appeared emotional as they listened to veterans' stories. Pic: PA

Arthur Oborne, 100, recalled being shot in the lung three days after arriving on Gold Beach. He was saved by Walter Gummerson, who was killed the next day alongside the rest of his unit.

"I wish I could tell him that I have never taken his sacrifice for granted and will always remember him and our friends," Mr Oborne told the crowd. "So Gummy, thank you my old friend."

The Red Arrows with a Typhoon FGR4 aircraft, painted with black and white stripes on the wings and fuselage, also known as invasion stripes or D-Day stripes, to allow the army and navy to distinguish friend from foe, perform a flypast over the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in Ver-sur-Mer Thursday June 6, 2024. Pic: PA
Image: The Red Arrows doing a flypast over the British memorial event. Pic: PA

Joe Biden takes swipe at Putin

Later, Mr Biden addressed a crowd at the US national commemoration, telling stories of some of the veterans in the audience before reflecting on current events - including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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'We won't surrender to bullies and dictators'

"Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago, and it is not the answer today," he said. "We know the dark forces that these heroes fought against 80 years ago, they never fade.

"The struggle between dictatorship and freedom is unending. Here in Europe we see one stark example. Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent on domination."

Prince William gave a speech of his own on Juno Beach, where Canadian troops were being honoured.

Prime Minister of France Gabriel Attal, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prince of Wales. Pic: Jordan Pettitt, Pool Photo via AP
Image: France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and Prince William Pic: AP
Prince William speaks to Canadian veterans. Pic: AP
Image: Prince William speaks to Canadian veterans. Pic: AP

He was joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and praised the "bravery and sacrifice" of the Canadians who "stormed these very sand dunes behind me, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of British troops".

"Standing here today in peaceful silence, it is almost impossible to grasp the courage it would have taken to run into the fury of battle that day," he said.

France's highest honour given to British veteran

Christian Lamb is awarded awarded the French Legion of Honour by French President Emmanuel Macron. Pic: PA Wire
Image: Christian Lamb is awarded the French Legion of Honour by French President Emmanuel Macron. Pic: PA Wire

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke at both the US and British commemorative events and awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour - the highest honour that can be awarded in France - to veterans including a British Wren.

Christian Lamb, 103, worked as a clerk in the Royal Navy before becoming a plotting officer, responsible for locating ships.

She was one of the people tasked with the logistical planning of D-Day.

France's President Emmanuel Macron reacts after awarding 104-years-old British World War II veteran, Christian Lamb, who helped to plan the D-Day landings in Normandy, with the insignia of Knight in the Legion of Honour order. Pic: Reuters
Image: Pic: Reuters

"You have set us an example that we will not forget," Mr Macron told her.

This afternoon, an international commemoration on Omaha Beach in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer united the heads of state and prominent politicians, who gave the veterans a standing ovation.

An 80-strong boat flotilla, one for each year since the D-Day landings, sails off the coast of Falmouth, in Cornwall. Pic: PA
Image: An 80-strong boat flotilla, one for each year since the D-Day landings, sails off the coast of Cornwall. Pic: PA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y and first lady Olena Zelenska were among those present and received a huge round of applause when they arrived.

Across the UK, numerous other D-Day commemorations have also taken place.

Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y and his wife Olena Zelenska, arrive at the international ceremony at Omaha Beach, Thursday, June 6, 2024 in Normandy. Pic: AP
Image: Olena Zelenska and Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y. Pic: AP
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh during the Royal British Legion's service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Pic: PA
Image: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Royal British Legion's service of remembrance in Staffordshire. Pic: PA

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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the Royal British Legion's remembrance service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

This evening, an 80-strong flotilla of boats left Falmouth, Cornwall, where around 27,000 American troops departed on D-Day.