Queen Camilla had tears in her eyes as members of the royal family joined veterans in commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
On June 5, the Queen, 76, appeared emotional at the U.K.’s national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Portsmouth, England, which she attended with King Charles and Prince William. It marked a rare outing for the three most senior working royals, and their first of several events to remember the historic military operation that changed the course of World War II.
The Prince of Wales, 41, was first to speak on stage at the service attended by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Helen Mirren, pledging to remember “those who served and those who waved them off” before his father took the mic. The King’s speech was significant as his first major public address since the palace announced his cancer diagnosis in February and followed his return to public-facing duties in late April.
King Charles on stage at the U.K.’s national commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, 2024.
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“Today, we come together to honor those nearly 160,000 British, Commonwealth and Allied troops who, on 5th June 1944, assembled here and along these shores to embark on the mission which would strike that blow for freedom and be recorded as the greatest amphibious operation in history,” the King said.
“Those who gathered here in Portsmouth would never forget the sight. It was by far the largest military fleet the world has ever known,” he continued, referring to the city’s key role in preparation for the D–Day campaign. “Yet all knew that both victory and failure were possible and none could know their fate.”
King Charles pointed to how 80 years later, “it is a near impossible task to imagine the emotion of that day” and said that he recently spoke with veterans who remember with “heartbreaking clarity” the sight of soldiers who drowned before they could enter combat.
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the U.K.’s national commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, 2024.
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The monarch urged future generations to never forget the wartime generation and “their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”
“So as we give thanks for all those who gave so much to win the victory, whose fruits we still enjoy to this day, let us once again commit ourselves always to remember, cherish and honor those who served that day and to live up to the freedom they died for by balancing rights with civic responsibilities to our country,” he concluded. “For we are all eternally in their debt.”
King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William appeared at the Ministry of Defense’s event for the D-Day Landings alongside veterans, including some involved in the historic operation on June 6, 1944. The intensity of the ceremony was not lost on those gathered, and King Charles appeared at one point to wipe a tear from his eye.
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the U.K.’s national commemorative event marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, 2024.
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The Daily Mail reported that the King was “adamant” about attending events for the 80th anniversary of D-Day amid his cancer treatment.
In March, a royal source told PEOPLE, “One thing that has been wholly undiminished is his appetite for work.”
From left: Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla attend event to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, 2024.
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Tomorrow, the King, Queen and Prince William will step out in France as the D-Day commemorations continue. The visit will be the King’s first trip overseassince the palace announced his cancer diagnosis.
