PRINCE William has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

On the day the world remembers fallen heroes and veterans of World War II, William shook hands with the war-torn country’s leader as he continues his fight against Vladimir Putin.

24

William has arrived at an international D-Day event in Normandy where he has met with Ukrainian President ZelenskyCredit: PA

24

Zelensky in France with his wife Olena to meet other world leadersCredit: AFP

24

William thanked veterans for their ‘extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice’Credit: EPA

24

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath and made a speech at Juno BeachCredit: PA

24

The Prince of Wales met with 100-year-old Richard Rohmer, one of the most decorated Canadian veterans, accompanied by the French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Canadian Prime Minister Justin TrudeauCredit: PA

24

William spoke to heroes on Juno BeachCredit: PA

24

Zelensky and his wife at Omaha Beach for the eventCredit: Rex

24

(L-R) Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, Prince William and Australia’s Governor-General David HurleyCredit: AFP

24

The Prince of Wales joined a number of world leadersCredit: Getty
King Charles also made his second powerful D-Day speech today as he joined its heroes for an emotional 80th anniversary.

Charles, 75, praised D-Day veterans at the UK’s commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer, France, saying we “must stand together to oppose tyranny.

He added: “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.”

Meanwhile, Prince William greeted Zelensky and his wife Olena as the couple bravely attended the international memorial despite battles at home.

Russia’s “horrifying” invasion has entered its second year in a terrifying campaign to occupy parts of Ukraine.

William this morning paid tribute to the courageous D-Day heroes who ran into the “fury of battle” on Normandy beaches.

The Prince of Wales, 41, laid a wreath and honoured 14,000 Canadians who stormed Juno Beach 80 years ago today.

He met with 100-year-old Richard Rohmer, one of the most decorated Canadian veterans, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

In a speech honouring the courageous at the Canadian cemetery in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, William welcomed veterans in English and in French.

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

Prince William

He said: “I am honoured to join you to commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian troops, who gave so much 80 years ago.

“On June 6 1944, as part of the one hundred and fifty thousand Allied Troops that landed or parachuted into Normandy, fourteen thousand were from Canada.

Key moments from D-Day anniversary services:

King Charles and Camilla arrived at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France
The Queen was seen wiping a tear from her eye as the memories of a D-Day veteran were read out
Charles was joined by world leaders as he delivered a speech insisting: “We must stand together to oppose tyranny”
French President Emmanuel Macron took his seat next to the King as British Red Arrows took part in a flypast
Prince William laid a wreath and honoured 14,000 Canadians who stormed Juno Beach 80 years ago today
He was joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal
In a speech honouring the courageous at the Canadian cemetery in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, Wills praised those who ran into the “fury of battle”

“Far from home they 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.

“The assault on D-Day remains the most ambitious military operation in history.”

All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered

Prince William

He added: “The events of that windy, grey day, ultimately led to the liberation of Europe, but it came at heavy cost. We continue to honour every Canadian, who gave so much.

Emotions run high on the beaches of Normandy today

BY Jerome Starkey, Defence Editor, on Gold Beach

It is only by standing on Normandy’s beaches that I began to understand the scale of what happened here 80 years ago.

Both in terms of human sacrifice – the number of people slaughtered on both sides.

And in terms of significance.

It was here, on the blood-soaked sands of Normandy, that our forebears began the liberation of Europe.

They leapt into the water and charged past dead and dying comrades so that we could enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.

The D-Day pilgrims around me today understand that sacrifice.

Some of them are serving soldiers. Some of them are veterans. Some have family connections while some have none.

They have come to pay homage and remember.

The largest group are the locals – the French –who applauded the Parachute Regiment yesterday and called out “Thank yous” as soldiers after jumping into Sannerville.

One of them asked me with genuine concern if people in Britain knew about D-Day as keenly as they do here.

They crowded onto Pegasus Bridge in their thousands, last night, to honour the airborne troops who dropped in ours before the D-Day landings and freed the very first house in France.

There is a large group of military enthusiasts dressed up in World War Two style uniforms with fleets of vintage jeeps and armoured fighting vehicles, all lovingly restored.

They give the events a festival feel.

The smallest group are the veterans. There are only a handful left alive.

And that gives this 80th anniversary a sense of added poignancy and a sense of urgency.

Those that understand the horror of what happened here want that lesson to be passed on to a younger generation.

They hope it might help us and our children avoid the madness of 80 years ago from happening all over again.

24

Prince William was greeted by Mr Trudeau as he arrived for the D-Day anniversaryCredit: EPA

24

Canadian paratroopers performed at the beach serviceCredit: EPA

24

King Charles laid a wreath in France this morningCredit: Getty

24

William and Mr Trudeau shook the hands of veterans on ThursdayCredit: PA

24

William, Trudeau and Attal bow their heads in respect to those who foughtCredit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

24

Charles became emotional at the service this morningCredit: Rex

24

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with ZelenskyCredit: AFP
“Every Canadian family who lost a loved one. Every Canadian who lived with the scars of battle, both physical and mental, I want to thank you, our veterans, for your extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice, on Juno Beach, and the liberation of Europe.

“All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered.

British paratroopers met by French customs as they jump into Normandy for 80th anniversary
“The commitment to service displayed by Canadian troops, is a great testament to the strength of the people of Canada.

“Canada and the UK continue to stand, side by side as we did in 1944. Just as strong together, 80 years later.

“Ensuring the memory of those who fought for freedom lives on is why we’ve come together again today – to say thank you.

“Thank you for our freedom, and thank you for your service. Merci pour notre liberté, et merci pour votre service.”

80 years on

BY Mike Ridley, at Ver Sur Mer

Eighty years after British troops stormed up Gold Beach in a hail of fire the King told the few remains veterans of D-Day: “Our gratitude is unfailing our admiration eternal.”

No one could fail to be moved as the 41 veterans fit enough to make the journey to Normandy were given a seven minute standing ovation.

The sight of 100 year old Bernard Morgan being wheeled in his chair by the Prime Minister brought to my eyes.

I have interviewed former RAF Sergeant Bernard several times over the years.

As our chats end I also tell him the nation is grateful. He always plays it down.

But as Rishi Sunak pushed him along behind the King and Queen at last he knows how much we owe his generation – the greatest generation.

William, Mr Trudeau and PM Attal have met with Canadian D-Day and Second World War Veterans, as well as Canadian Armed Forces personnel, cadets, and wider youth representatives.

Canadian paratroopers performed at the service commemorating the courage of those who fought against Nazi Germany before a two-minute silence was held.

King Charles and Camilla earlier arrived at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France.

In Charles’ first overseas trip since being diagnosed with cancer, he saluted veterans as the Queen wiped a tear from her eye.

The monarch said “we must stand together to oppose tyranny,” adding: “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.”

The King’s Speech

THE King paid tribute to the “remarkable war-time generation.

Charles said: “Eighty years ago on D-Day, the 6th of June 1944, our nation – and those which stood alongside it – faced what my grandfather, King George VI, described as the supreme test.

“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.

“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 war-time 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.

“It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time.

“We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades – free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny.”

Charles continued: “As the years pass, the veterans of the Normandy campaign become ever fewer in number.

“Over the past 40 years, I have had the great privilege of attending seven D-Day commemorations in Normandy and meeting so many distinguished veterans.

“Indeed, I shall never forget the haunting sight and sound of thousands of bemedaled figures proudly marching past into a French sunset on these beaches.

“Our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for us all can never diminish.”

Concluding his speech, the King spoke of his “unfailing” gratitude to those who lost their lives on D-Day 80 years ago.

Charles said: “This vital start to the liberation of Europe was a vast Allied effort.

“American, British, Canadian, French and Polish formations fought here in Normandy.

“Among the names inscribed on the walls and pillars of this memorial are men and women from more than 30 different nations and many faiths.

“United, they fought together for what my grandfather, King George VI, described as ‘a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men in every land’.

“As we stand alongside their remaining friends and comrades on this hallowed ground, let us affirm that we will strive to live by their example, let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again and let us commit to carrying forward their resounding message of courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom, tempered by the duty of responsibilities to others for the benefits of younger generations and those yet unborn.

“Our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal.”

Some veterans were helped from their wheelchairs to stand when the King and Queen arrived.

They were greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his wife Akshata Murty and Lord Peter Ricketts.

The audience in Ver-sur-Mer heard the experiences of Joe Mines, 99, from Hornchurch in London.

Camilla dabbed her eye before smiling with the King as Mr Mines waved his arms in the air.

French President Emmanuel Macron took his seat next to the King and was seen smiling as he talked to Charles for several minutes.

Normandy fell silent in solemn scenes this morning as a lone piper played at the exact moment of the beach landings 80 years ago.

The lament of a military piper rang out on Gold Beach in Arromanches to mark the anniversary of the D-Day beach invasions.

Major Trevor Macey-Lillie stood tall as he paid tribute to fallen veterans.

He was playing for those who led the biggest seaborne invasion in military history – and performed Highland Laddie as he came ashore.

The sun was shining as attendees began taking their seats and dozens of coaches and buses lined the surrounding roads.

The British Normandy Memorial is where the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day are etched.

The Prime Minister arrived with his wife Akshata Murty at the Memorial Entrance.

He addressed an audience gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of the invasion later in the morning.

Wills tells heroes Kate ‘would love to be here’

By Matt Wilkinson & Jane Matthews

PRINCE William offered an update on Princess Kate’s health as he chatted warmly to veterans after today’s D-Day commemorations.

The Heir joined his father, Queen Camilla and other leaders alongside war heroes in a moving anniversary event in Portsmouth.

King Charles and William both took to the stage to pay tribute to the veterans and their families.

Afterwards, William revealed Kate was feeling “better”, adding: “She would’ve loved to be here today.”

In a sweet clip that showed Prince William bending down to chat with a 95-year-old veteran he was asked: “I was going to ask you is your wife getting any better?”

William revealed she was well, before adding: “I was reminding everyone her grandmother used to work at Bletchley Park.

“She had a lot in common with some of the ladies here who never spoke about anything until the very end.”

William spoke to a Bletchley Park codebreaker about Princess Kate’s grandma Valerie, who also helped to break the Enigma code.

He said: “My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you. Catherine only found out at the end of her life.”

The Prince spoke to other veterans, too – thanking them for their service and telling them how special it had been.

He said: “I found it very moving, all the stories and letters, even now 80 years later.”

When one hero said “thank you”, the Prince of Wales replied: “No, we are here to thank you.”

William said: “We are here to say a big thank you and to all your colleagues and friends who didn’t make it back.”

The PM said: “Each of you who contributed that day – sailor, soldier, aviator, civilian – whether you fought on the beaches, or parachuted from the skies, or flew fighters or gliders, whether you were an engineer or a radio operator or an intelligence officer, your actions freed a continent and built a better world.

“You risked everything and we owe you everything.

“We cannot possibly hope to repay that debt but we can and we must pledge never to forget.

He said veterans had “taught generations of young people about the horrors of war”.

He added: “Yet with each passing year, it falls now to those of us who listened in awe to your stories to pass them on to our own children and grandchildren.

“Because only by remembering can we make certain that the cause you fought for, that so many of your friends and colleagues died for, that great cause of freedom, peace and democracy, will never be taken for granted.”

PM’s tribute to veterans

By Martina Bet, Political Correspondent

RISHI Sunak has paid tribute to the “courage and sacrifice” of D-Day soldiers as he vowed they will never be forgotten.

He also insisted Britain must become a country where all veterans are treated “as the heroes they are”.

At the remembrance event in Portsmouth this morning, the PM said about the WW2 vets: “We gather to honour their courage and sacrifice.

“We must never forget how much we owe them. In their memory, we must create a country where all our veterans are treated as the heroes they are.

“And we must dedicate ourselves again to the moral cause for which they fought and died 80 years ago – the cause of freedom and democracy.”

Mr Sunak also read an address by Field Marshal Montgomery, which was delivered to the troops ahead of the D-Day landings.

The address read: “To us is given the honour of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history; and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of our doings. We have a great and a righteous cause.”

Over the course of two days, the PM, the King and a slew of dignitaries and vets will come together to remember the battle that became the turning point towards an Allied victory.

It will mean election campaigning is currently paused as the remembrance events take centre stage.

24

The Prince of Wales chats with veterans from Gloucestershire regimentCredit: Paul Edwards

24

Wills beamed as he met with veterans in FranceCredit: AP

24

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the 80th anniversary of D-Day, held at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, FranceCredit: Reuters

24

A teary Camilla listened to the stories of veteransCredit: Reuters

24

The Red Arrows on a flypast in Ver-Sur-Mer, FranceCredit: Getty

24

Prince William, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister of France Gabriel Attal all spoke at the ceremonyCredit: Getty

24

King Charles met with with D-Day veteran Arnie Salter, 98, from WarwickshireCredit: PA