‘They did not flinch’: King Charles praises D-Day heroes as last remaining veterans weep for the fallen

King Charles praised the “remarkable wartime generation” and unflinching bravery of those who fought for freedom in a highly emotional speech on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

While the monarch spoke, veterans wept as they recalled comrades who had given their lives storming the beaches in Normandy.

The King and Queen were deeply moved by the ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, with Camilla wiping away a tear as the memories of a D-Day hero were read to the audience.

World leaders, including UK prime minister Rishi Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron, sat in silent prayer alongside the royals and veterans, to honour the tens of thousands of soldiers who fought to free Europe from the Nazis.

Charles, wearing his Field Marshal No 4 Tropical Service dress uniform, told the crowd: “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 wartime 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.”

The King gave part of his speech in French before pausing to salute during the “Last Post”. In the sombre silence that followed, those veterans who were able to, got to their feet, emotion etched on their faces, while others sat with heads bowed and eyes closed.

The Red Arrows soared overhead as the King and military leaders laid poppy wreaths at the memorial, while the French and English national anthems were played in the background.

Tourists, including some in Second World War Allied military uniforms, flooded into Normandy for the anniversary.

Five years ago, on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, 225 veterans travelled to Normandy for the commemorations; this year only 23 made the trip, with some absent due to ill health.

It was also confirmed on Thursday that a 102-year-old US veteran, who served at Iwo Jima, died on his way to France for the commemorations.

Elsewhere, Mr Macron awarded the Legion of Honour to 103-year-old Christian Lamb, a former British naval officer. The daughter of a Royal Navy admiral, she created detailed maps that guided Allied landing craft on D-Day.

The French president described her as one of the “heroes in the shadows”.

“You came here because the free world needed each and every one of you, and you answered the call,” he said. “You came here to make France a free nation. You’re back here today at home, if I may say.”

Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden directly linked Ukraine’s fight for its young democracy to the battle to defeat Nazi Germany.

“To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable,” Mr Biden said. “If we were to do that, it means we’d be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky flew in from Kyiv to pay his respects, but Russian president Vladimir Putin was not invited to the events given his invasion of Ukraine. Mr Sunak, who attended the morning events, left the commemorations early to return to election campaigning in the UK.

At the Canadian ceremony on Juno Beach, the Prince of Wales thanked those who served “for our freedom”, adding: “All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered.”

He was joined in Courseulles-sur-Mer, Normandy, by the French prime minister Gabriel Attal, the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as Canadian D-Day veterans and armed forces personnel.

William said: “On June 6 1944, as part of the 150,000 Allied troops that landed or parachuted into Normandy, 14,000 were from Canada.

“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.”

Later in the afternoon, Charles and Camilla officially opened the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning, close to the British Normandy Memorial.

They were shown around an exhibition, curated by the Royal British Legion, which told the stories of those who fought on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy.

Charles was heard remarking: “It’s extraordinary isn’t it?” They then signed the visitor’s book, before departing.