June 5th 2024.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, Queen Camilla sat in the Royal Box at the UK's national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. As she watched, she was overcome with emotion as a veteran, Eric Bateman, recounted the harrowing story of losing his best friend on the beaches of Normandy. The Queen was brought to tears, and even King Charles was seen wiping his eyes.
The event, held in Portsmouth, was attended by the Prince of Wales, leading UK politicians, and numerous veterans. In his tribute to the brave soldiers, Charles praised their courage, resilience, and solidarity. He also acknowledged that we are all eternally indebted to them for their service.
Eric Bateman, a veteran who served on HMS Erebus, took the stage and described the scene he witnessed 80 years ago. He remembered the countless ships and the overwhelming feeling of being a part of something bigger. He also expressed his gratitude for being able to share the stage with his two great-granddaughters. Sadly, many of his fellow soldiers, including his dear friend Fred, did not make it to see this day.
Bateman's great-granddaughters then took the microphone to thank all the soldiers of the Normandy landings, acknowledging that without their sacrifices, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. They also promised to never forget and expressed their heartfelt gratitude.
King Charles also appeared emotional during the event, and in his speech, he warned that we must never forget the service and sacrifice of the brave soldiers who fought on the beaches of Normandy. He reminded the crowd that it is our duty to ensure that future generations also remember their bravery.
After the event, Charles met with 21 veterans, one of whom shared a joke with him and revealed that he had served on the same ship as the King's late father, the Duke of Edinburgh. The King's appearance at the event was his first public speech since his cancer diagnosis, and he wore multiple medals and decorations, including the Queen's Service Order, Coronation Medal, Jubilee Medals, Order of Merit, and Naval Long Service medal.
The event also saw the attendance of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who read an address by Field Marshal Montgomery to the troops before the D-Day landings. Dame Helen Mirren formally introduced the event, and actor Phil Dunster read a letter written by Major Rodney Maude of the Royal Engineers 48 hours before D-Day.
At 11 am, Call The Midwife star Helen George led an ensemble of singers in a rendition of Dame Vera Lynn's iconic song, "We'll Meet Again." The emotional performance had veterans in the audience singing along and waving Union flags.
The Normandy landings, which took place in 1944, were the largest seaborne invasion in history. Troops from the UK, US, Canada, and France joined forces to attack German forces on the beaches of Normandy. The Allied victory that followed laid the foundation for the end of the Second World War. To mark this historic milestone, some veterans will attend two days of remembrance events in Portsmouth and Normandy. The UK and French governments will host memorial events at both ports to honor the D-Day landings.
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