King Charles III attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Thursday, June 6, 2024, marking his first overseas visit since being diagnosed with cancer. The King was accompanied by Queen Camilla and participated in a series of commemorative events at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. During the visit, Charles provided a positive health update to D-Day veteran Ronald Hendrey, reassuring him, “I am doing well.”
Charles and Camilla were visibly moved by the veterans’ stories. Camilla was seen wiping her eyes as she listened to the emotional recollections. One veteran, Ronald Hendrey, referring to King Charles, shared, “He was very nice. He listened to what I was saying and took it in.”
The commemorative events drew world leaders, including President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron. In his speech, King Charles honored the sacrifice and resilience of the Allied troops who took part in the D-Day landings. He emphasized the importance of remembering their service and the lessons learned from history. “The tales of bravery, determination, and unity we’ve heard today and over the years deeply move and inspire us, reminding us of our debt to that remarkable wartime generation,” King Charles stated.
Prince William represented the British Royal Family at the international ceremony at Omaha Beach, reflecting the king’s ongoing medical treatment. Prince William also participated in the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer. Speaking to a veteran in Portsmouth, Prince William mentioned that Princess Kate, undergoing cancer treatment, would have loved to be part of the D-Day events. “She is better, thanks. She would’ve loved to be here today,” he shared.
The events featured personal anecdotes from veterans, including Arthur Oborne, who became emotional while recalling his friend Walter Gummerson, who saved his life but was killed the next day. D-Day veteran Les Budding expressed concerns about the UK’s preparedness for future conflicts, warning that the country is “living on a knife edge.”
The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings was marked by significant ceremonies, with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the forefront of the UK’s commemorative efforts.
