D-Day – latest: Veteran warns ‘UK on a knife edge’ as Biden says world ‘won’t surrender’ at 80th anniversary

The Princess Royal hailed the “loyalty, bravery and duty” of a Canadian regiment who fought to liberate Europe with Allied forces 80 years ago.

Anne’s words of tribute came as she unveiled a statue in Normandy of a rifleman from the Royal Regina Rifles, shown weapon in hand storming the beaches on D-Day.

The ceremony was in Place des Canadiens in the picturesque town of Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse, where after the famous landings, the Canadian regiment resisted enemy counterattacks head-on, without giving up any ground.

In the tiny square, the princess told guests: “How fitting it is on this 80th anniversary of the landing and the commencement of the Battle for Normandy, that this statue has been unveiled in honour of the Regina Rifles who sacrificed so much for the cause of liberty and freedom.”

Anne, who took part in the ceremony in her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regina Rifles, was joined by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Nicknamed “The Johns”, the Canadian unit was one of the first infantry regiments to storm Juno beach 80 years ago with other Canadian forces.

The Prince of Wales said his wife the Princess of Wales would have loved to have joined the D-Day commemorations as she continues to recover following her cancer diagnosis.

Footage on social media showed William speaking to a veteran, in which he appeared to say “she is” when asked whether Kate was getting any better.

The prince added: “She’d love to be here today.”

He told the veteran about how Kate’s grandmother worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and was one of a group of women who never spoke about anything until the very end, adding: “It was all very secret.”

The Prince of Wales has met the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of the soldier whose D-Day letter to his wife he read out during the commemoration in Portsmouth.

William read the letter written in a diary on the day of the landings by Captain Alastair Bannerman, who was part of the D-Day forces.

Amy Callebaut, 40, from Devon, who is Cpt Bannerman’s granddaughter, attended the event with her daughter Naina, five.

She said: “It was really quite emotional. We had the reading in advance and re-reading his diary entries but the moment of the day and the ceremony and everything else and that it was Prince William reading my grandfather’s words made me feel really emotional.”

On meeting the prince, she said: “He told me that he felt really honoured to read the diary and the entry.”

Describing her grandfather, she added: “He was an eccentric. When he was captured during the D-Day landings he escaped twice and was captured three times in two days and was kept as a prisoner of war until the end of the war when he came home.

“During the time he was prisoner of war he ended up being in charge of cooking and entertainment in the prisoner of war camp.

“He was a family man devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren, he was an actor, performer, a really good fun, really caring, loving man.”

William could be heard asking Ms Callebaut if he “did the letter justice” and had come across as “sincere” before telling her: “I found it very moving when I read it the first time.”

Hundreds of people have headed to the Bank of England to be among the first to own a banknote featuring the King:

The King and Queen appeared overcome with emotion as Charles paid tribute to the “courage, resilience and solidarity” of veterans:

A D-Day veteran who lost his legs in Normandy received a standing ovation, including from actress Helen Mirren, when he appeared on stage during the show.

Roy Hayward, 98, who served as a reserve tank crewman and landed on Gold Beach, met members of the royal family. He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them, I thought they were super actually, I was most impressed by the way they chatted to me and were so friendly.

“They asked me how I got on and how I had my legs blown off.

“I lost both of my legs but that’s nothing in comparison with what happened to other people and that’s always the attitude I’ve had.”

He added: “It’s gone very well, beautifully organised as it normally is when the military are involved and the Navy and all the services, everything goes like clockwork.

“It made me feel reminiscent and it has made me think of all the people who didn’t come back.”

A Royal Navy veteran has paid tribute to his “wonderful shipmates” who died in the D-Day invasion 80 years ago and said that history “must never be forgotten”.

Alec Penstone, who served on HMS Campania, saluted fallen soldiers as the Last Post was played at an emotional ceremony in Normandy.

The 99-year-old stood to sing throughout the service at Colleville Montgomery and laid a wreath during the poignant service near Sword Beach.

Some 11 veterans with the Spirit of Normandy Trust joined the commemorations, sitting in the front row of the service.

Mr Penstone and fellow D-day veteran Ken Hay stood side by side as music played to commemorate the anniversary.

Mr Penstone said: “I’m as surprised as anyone else I’m still here, I didn’t expect to be. Nevertheless, someone’s looking after me, they say the devil looks after his own. I’m very lucky.”

The grandfather of three added: “When I realised how many wonderful shipmates of mine died, and I just wonder why I’m still spared.

“But nevertheless it was something that’s got to be down in history and must never ever be forgotten.

“I thank my lucky stars I’m still here to be able to tell the tale.”

On the 80th anniversary of D-Day tomorrow, a military piper will land on the beaches of Arromanches-les-Bains at Normandy in a Royal Marines landing craft and begin playing a lament in tribute to those who led the beach landings.

The official British commemoration for the 80th anniversary of D-Day will take place at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, where the King will join French president Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak.

The Prince of Wales will attend events in Normandy including a service hosted by Canada at Juno Beach and an international ceremony hosted by France at Omaha Beach, which will be attended by more than 25 heads of state.

Tonight, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Bayeux War Cemetery will light up in honour of those who fought on the beaches.

Tomorrow, Thursday - the 80th anniversary of D-Day - commemorations will begin in Normandy at 7.25am, the time that the beach invasion began in 1944.