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D-Day 80th anniversary LIVE: King Charles and Joe Biden to join commemorations in France as world leaders pay tribute to Normandy veterans

5 months ago 23

By Jamie Bullen

Published: 07:01 BST, 6 June 2024 | Updated: 07:52 BST, 6 June 2024

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King Charles will join world leaders including US President Joe Biden in France today to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

The military operation to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944, was the largest by air, land and sea ever attempted and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 4,000 to 9,000 troops.

Events including military displays and parades are taking place over two days to commemorate the 80th anniversary with world leaders gathering on a beach which was used as a landing area by Allied soldiers.

Follow MailOnline's live coverage below

Lone piper marks exact moment British troops stormed Normandy beaches in D-Day tribute

A lone military piper has today played on Gold Beach to mark the moment the first British troops stormed the Normandy coast on D-Day 80 years ago

Major Trevor Macey-Lillie played Highland Laddie as he was carried to the beach at Arromanches on a Royal Marines amphibious landing craft flanked by service members.

Crowds gathered at the beach to view the reenactment, which took place in a picturesque sunrise - a far cry from the cloudy and rough seas that welcomed 25,000 soldiers who landed on the same stretch of coast in 1944.

Read Matthew Lodge and Dan Woodland's piece here:

In pictures: D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations

We have a busy day ahead of us so stick with us for the latest news, pictures, video and reaction to D-Day commemorations on the 80th anniversary of the military operation in northern France.

Here are some of our favourtie pictures taken yesterday during a series of commemorative events:

A handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence of the Red Arrows performing a fly-past during the national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, hosted by the Ministry of Defence on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, England, Wednesday June 5, 2024.  (Cpl Phil Dye/MoD/Crown Copyright via AP)

British soldiers stand guard near illuminated gravestones at the Bayeux War Cemetery, in Bayeux, Northwestern France on June 5, 2024, as part of the "D-Day" commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy. The D-Day ceremonies on June 6 this year mark the 80th anniversary since the launch of 'Operation Overlord', a vast military operation by Allied forces in Normandy, which turned the tide of World War II, eventually leading to the liberation of occupied France and the end of the war against Nazi Germany. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a UK national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing (D-Day Landings) in France in 1944, in Southsea Common, in Portsmouth, southern England, on June 5, 2024. Heads of state and veterans are due to mark the anniversary of D-Day on June 6, a date that was key to Allied Europe's eventual victory against the Nazis in World War II. (Photo by Dylan Martinez / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

International pipers from France, Germany and the United Kingdom during a procession from Bayeux Cathedral to the Great Vigil at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's  Bayeux War Cemetery in Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. June 5, 2024. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS

 Photo by Ambassade US France/UPI/Shutterstock (14525522c) US President Joe Biden (C) is welcomed by France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal upon arrival at Paris Orly airport near Paris, on Wednesday June 5, 2024, as he travels to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. US President Joe Biden Arrives Paris to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, France - 05 Jun 2024

King's personal battle to get to Normandy

Rory Tingle reports King Charles was adamant he would go to D-Day commemoration events in Britain and Normandy and made it a personal goal to attend.

The monarch, 75, was present at the UK's national commemorative event in Portsmouth yesterday and the commemorations in northern France today - marking his first major international event since he began treatment for cancer.

Read Rory’s report here:

Watch: Queen meets D-Day veteran who moved her to tears

This is the moment Queen Camilla met the D-Day veteran whose story of heroism brought her to tears.

Eric Batemen joined the navy at just 17 years old to 'do his bit for King and Country', but has rarely spoken about his part in the historic D-Day landings in Normandy.

See the video below:

King Charles urges Britons not to forget the 'service and sacrifice' of D-Day war heroes

King Charles yesterday urged people not to forget the 'service and sacrifice' of the heroes of D-Day in his first public speech since being diagnosed with cancer.

The monarch, 75, joined the Prince of Wales, leading UK politicians and veterans at a major event in Portsmouth to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings.

Read Rory Tingle's report here:

D-Day 80th anniversary - What is happening today?

US President Joe Biden is seen upon arrival at Paris Orly airport near Paris, on June 5, 2024, as he travels to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. JULIEN DE ROSA/Pool via REUTERS REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT

Let’s take a look at what we have coming up today with events taking place in France and here in the UK:

9.30am

  • King Charles, Queen Camilla and Rishi Sunak attend the UK’s national commemoration event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.

10am

  • Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prince of Wales attend the Canadian national ceremony at Juno Beach centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer.

11am

  • US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron expected to attend the American national ceremony with a memorial service at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer.

11am

  • A D-Day memorial service will be held in Southsea, Portsmouth, with a veterans parade members of the Armed Forces march also taking place.

2pm

  • The Royal British Legion will hold a service of remembrance with veterans and family members at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to attend.

2.30pm

  • World leaders will gather at an international ceremony on Omaha Beach where Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. President Biden, Rishi Sunak, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron to attend alongside the Prince of Wales.

9.45pm

  • Beacons will be lit across the UK and all five beaches in Normandy to remember those involved in the D-Day operation.

All times BST

We will be providing live coverage throughout the day.

Good morning

 Leon Neal/PA Wire

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

We have a day packed with events to mark the military operation by Allied forces to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944 - the largest ever attempted by air, land and sea.

King Charles and US President Joe Biden will be in France and we will bring you the news from the events plus pictures and videos of this significant anniversary.

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