D-Day flotilla sets sail at end of 80th anniversary after Biden's anti-Putin speech

Earlier, the King spoke of his “profound sense of gratitude” to those who fought in the D-Day invasion, as he addressed veterans during 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy.

Veterans could be seen wiping their eyes with tissues as Charles spoke at the national commemorative event.

During his speech, Charles told the audience: “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time”.

Charles paid tribute to the “remarkable war-time generation” as he continued: “Eighty years ago on D-Day, the 6th of June 1944, our nation and those which stood alongside it faced what my grandfather, KingGeorge VI, described as the supreme test.

“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 war-time generation.“

Read King Charles’ speech in full on PA.

US president Joe Biden launched a blistering attack on Vladimir Putin during his D-Day speech in Normandy.

Biden addressed veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer and spoke of their bravery and “courage and resolve” as they sought to free the world from tyranny during the Second World War.

But Biden brought up parallels with then and now, citing the war in Ukraine and declaring Russian president Putin a “tyrant bent on domination”.

He said: “The struggle between dictatorship and freedom is unending. Here in Europe, we see one stark example. Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant bent and domination. Ukrainians are fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses, but never backing down.

“Because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated and it will not end there. Ukraine’s neighbours will be threatened. All of Europe will be threatened. And make no mistake, the autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine to see if we let this illegal aggression go unchecked.

“We cannot let that happen.”

Before the assembled crowd of servicemen, leaders and dignitaries heard from US president Joe Biden, French leader Emmanuel Macron was on stage presenting the country's Legion d'Honneur – France's highest award – to a number of US Second World War veterans.

Thousands of US troops stormed Utah and Omaha beaches as part of the D-Day landings in 1944, with around 3,000 Americans losing their lives in Omaha and another 200 in Utah.

The ceremony was watched by, among others, notable figures from across the Atlantic, including Hollywood director Stephen Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks. The film duo have a particular connection to the events of D-Day, having directed and starred respectively in 1998 film Saving Private Ryan, the multi-Oscar winning blockbuster set at the time of the landings.

Kate Garraway was seen sharing an emotional moment on Good Morning Britain as she held hands with a crying soldier as they remembered her late husband, Derek Draper, amid D-Day commemorations in Normandy.

The presenter was reporting live from Ver-Sur-Mer, while Ed Balls and Charlotte Hawkins spoke to her from the London-based studio. She was seen during the early preparations of events to mark the day's 80th anniversary, remembering all of those who had lost their lives in the war, as veterans themselves arrived.

Kate explained how a number of surviving veterans and heroes had travelled to be at the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which takes play on Thursday, with one of them being 100-year-old John Life who the presenter was seen speaking to.

Read the full story from Manchester Evening News.

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen spoke at the D-Day commemoration and cited the current war in Ukraine.

Earlier in her speech, Frederiksen said “freedom is not a legacy”, as she called for Ukraine to be given full support to win theIr fight against Russia.

She said: “History is our coming memory.

“To all of you whose father, grandfather, great-grandfather or other close relative who was part of the battle at Normandy or the fight against Nazism, I will say our fight for freedom today is based on them.

“It is our responsibility – we who live now – to remember and tell their story.

“History is our common memory. It reminds us who we are, what is wrong and what is right.

“Generations before us imagined a new Europe of peace after a terrible war.

“They carried a wish and a hope and a struggle for freedom. Now today in Europe, we are still in the process of understanding what it means war has returned to our continent.

“We must step up to honour the sacrifice of past generations, take on the heavy responsibility that has fallen on our generation. And make sure that the generations to come are proud of what we did.

“I am fully aware that history never repeats itself, but sometimes it feels that way.

“Right now in the heart of Europe a city is bombed. Right now children and families murdered.

“Just two hours flight from Copenhagen, Kharkiv is the target of daily bombing. A city just like any other city in Europe, but right now a city at the frontline in the fight for freedom.

“The freedom that the soldiers bravely fought for 80 years ago. We cannot let it slip from our hands.

“Freedom is not a legacy.

“To win the war Ukraine needs our full support. Our weapons, our aircraft, our material.

“They need more and they need it now and they will get it for as long as it takes.

“Doing too little too late is not an option.”

President Joe Biden is at the Omaha Beach D-Day event alongside French president Emmanuel Macron.

Watch the speech live below:

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to those who fought and died on D-Day and described their mission as a “new day of hope” on his X post.

D-Day saw nearly 25,000 troops from the British 50th Division land on Gold beach.

High winds raised the tide quicker than expected and hid beach obstacles underwater.

However, air and naval bombardment had already softened the German defences along the coast and British troops were able to advance some six miles in just one day.

Their objectives were to capture the town of Bayeux and the Caen-Bayeux road, and to link up with the Americans at Omaha.

British paratroopers recreating an airdrop behind German defences to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day were met by French customs officials at a makeshift border checkpost.

Moments after the paratroopers had hit the ground and gathered up their chutes, they formed an orderly queue and handed over their passports for inspection by waiting French customs officials in a Normandy field.

Some 320 British, Belgian and U.S. paratroopers took part in the jump on Wednesday to recreate the events of 6 June 6 1944.

Read the full story from Reuters.

A Second World War US Navy veteran who witnessed the raising of the United States flag at Iwo Jima has died on the way to a D-Day commemoration event in France.

Robert Persichitti, 102, passed away on Friday after being airlifted to a hospital in Germany while en route to Normandy to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Allied invasion.

The veteran, who lived in Fairport, New York, was traveling with the National World War II Museum group to attend the memorial celebrations and was on a sailing ship down the coast of Normandy when he had to be airlifted after suffering a “medical emergency”, WHEC said.

Read the full story from The Independent.

Tom Jones and Martin Freeman at UK D-Day commemoration

British stars Sir Tom Jones and Martin Freeman both took part in moving tributes at the UK’s national commemorative event in Normandy.

Jones stood in front of a wall bearing the names of personnel serving under British command who died while taking part in the invasion and Battle of Normandy. He performed his song I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall.

Actor Freeman read the words of Joe Mines, a D-Day veteran who landed on Gold Beach 80 years ago and was present at the commemorative event held in Normandy on Thursday.

In the message read by the actor, Mines said he had come back “to pay my respect to those who didn’t make it”.

Mines smiled and waved to applause from the audience as Freeman concluded his speech and sat down next to the veteran.

The King and Queen have joined prime minister Rishi Sunak and other dignitaries for the D-Day commemoration at the British Normandy Memorial.

The memorial is located at Ver-sur-Mer beach, where the British 50th Infantry Division landed as part of the Normandy Landings invasion on 6 June 1944.

Separately, an event is also taking place at Courseulles-sur-Mer, which is being attended by the Prince of Wales and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. The ceremony is taking place just metres from Juno Beach, where some 14,000 Canadians came ashore in the face of heavy enemy fire on D-Day.

Commemorations will also take place in the French town of Arromanches, including a veterans’ parade, air and firework display. Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France, will host a service led by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

In the UK, an 80-strong flotilla of boats will leave from Falmouth, Cornwall, where thousands of troops departed to take part in the invasion, while a beacon-lighting ceremony will take place in Aylesford, Kent.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will join veterans at a Royal British Legion remembrance service at The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will meet veterans at a show at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Eighty years ago today, Allied forces from Britain, America and the Commonwealth launched the biggest naval and airborne invasion the world had ever seen – D-Day.

Eight decades on since the operation, many of those involved – who would have been young men at the time – have since passed away, with those still surviving to tell their stories among the oldest members of our society.

But to honour those involved, here’s a look back at some of the veterans' stories to remind ourselves – in their own words – of their experiences on D-Day and during Operation Overlord.

Read about the veterans’ experiences on Manchester Evening News.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak posted a tribute to the “heroes” of D-Day after speaking at the D-Day commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France.

Strong currents swept the first wave of Allied troops into an assault area that was less defended on Utah beach, some 2,000 yards from their primary target.

They advanced on the German army, with support from airborne troops who had already dropped into the area behind Utah beach hours earlier.

The causeway was secured and provided a route for troops to move further inland. After just one day, troops had advanced some four miles.

The King and Queen appeared emotional as they watched moving tributes to veterans and fallen soldiers at the national commemorative event in Normandy.

Camilla was seen wiping her eye as the memories of a D-Day veteran were read out, while Charles also appeared to be visibly moved.

The audience in Ver-sur-Mer heard the experiences of Joe Mines, 99, from Hornchurch in east London.

It is the first major anniversary event hosted at the memorial, which opened in 2021, and Charles and Camilla will officially open the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning following the commemorations on Thursday.

The Royal Marines of 47 Commando and civilians walk through the waters carrying tributes at Asnelles before their annual 'yomp' to Port-en-Bessin in Normandy.

Cecil Newton was bound for the beaches of Normandy 80 yeas ago – but it was a very different journey as he made his way back for the anniversary today.

Roy Hayward, 98, who served as a reserve tank crewman and landed on Gold Beach, received a standing ovation when he appeared on stage during the commemoration on Wednesday.

He said: “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.”

Read the full story on PA.

The D-Day commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France has started, which marks the 80th anniversary of the invasion. Watch the live stream below:

The LBC presenter Iain Dale has shared a touching memory of his father, who was 15 at the time of the landings, touring the allied cemeteries during the 50th anniversary commemorations 30 years ago.

Omaha beach was the longest and most heavily defended beach on D-Day.

Shortly after midnight on 6 June, more than 2,200 Allied aircraft began their bombardments on German defences and other targets in Normandy.

Bombardments failed to destroy much of the defences and the German army were able to reinforce defences along the coast to combat the Allied forces marching towards them.

Despite the uphill battle, Allied troops were able to gain a small foothold by the end of the day and successfully remove German gun replacements at the top of the cliff.

But it came at a cost – Omaha beach saw more casualties than any other beach in the D-Day landings.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has posted a tribute on X to those who made the “ultimate sacrifice” on D-Day.

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings will be especially significant as it is likely to be the last major anniversary that a large number of veterans will still be alive to commemorate it.

It also comes at a time when a major land war on European soil – the ongoing conflict in Ukraine – takes place for the first time since 1945.

The Normandy D-Day landings were the largest seaborne invasion in history. Their importance cannot be underplayed – the 1944 battle essentially laid the foundation for an Allied victory in the Second World War.

Read the full story behind the D-Day landings – and the veterans who fought – on Yahoo News.

The commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy have begun, with a military piper playing a lament at sea at the exact moment of the beach invasion in 1944.

Major Trevor Macey-Lillie paid tribute to fallen veterans at Gold Beach in Arromanches by playing Highland Laddie as he came ashore.

Highland Laddie is a poignant pieces as it is also to remember a lone piper who played in the Normandy landings but was never shot at.

Major Macey-Lillie began in a landing craft utility before being driven up the beach in a DUKW amphibious vehicle.

Arromanches will see more commemorations throughout the day, including a veterans’ parade, air and firework display.