Prince William greets Volodymyr Zelensky. - Celebration of the D-Day Anniversary Event
In the afternoon, the primary commemoration ceremony for the Allied Landing in Normandy's 80th anniversary took place along the French Atlantic coast. Prince William, representing his father, King Charles III, who is currently battling cancer, attended the event. At Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer's Omaha Beach, Prince William greeted the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska.
Fiery Speeches from Biden and Macron
Royal figures and dignitaries from across the globe joined the commemoration ceremony. Apart from Prince William, King Frederik X of Denmark, Queen Mathilde of Belgium, the Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and Prince Albert II also made an appearance, as per "People."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and US President Joe Biden were also in attendance, greeting a handful of surviving veterans from D-Day. These veterans had spearheaded the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi rule eight decades ago.
In his speech, President Biden asserted, as reported by "NBC News," "The fight between dictatorship and freedom never ends. Here in Europe, we have a prominent example. Ukraine was invaded by a tyrant who craves power. Let's ensure that what transpired here is not forgotten amid tomorrow's silence and that we remember to celebrate and live it." He concluded, "Democracy is not a guaranteed privilege."
King Charles and Queen Camilla's Presence in France
President Macron thanked the D-Day veterans in his speech, acknowledging their sacrifices for his homeland's freedom. He further crowned eleven US veterans as Knights of the Legion of Honor for their heroic service during that time. The wheelchair-bound veterans were recognized for their valor.
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited a morning commemoration event in honor of D-Day's 80th anniversary. It was King Charles's first foreign journey since disclosing his cancer diagnosis. He had already delivered an emotionally charged speech at the "British Normandy Memorial" in Ver-sur-Mer in British Portsmouth on Wednesday (June 5), praising the "courage, resilience, and solidarity" of the World War II veterans. Eyewitnesses stated that he came close to shedding tears.
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed in Normandy during World War II, initiating one of the most significant turning points in the Second World War. The day is recognized as D-Day.
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- At the memorial service, Prince William warmly welcomed Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian President.
- Emmanuel Macron praised the bravery of the D-Day veterans in his fiery speech during the commemoration ceremony.
- Alongside other world leaders, French President Macron honored the US veterans with the Knights of the Legion of Honor awards.
- King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Prince Albert II of Monaco joined the international gathering for the D-Day anniversary celebration.
- In his speech, US President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of remembering the fight for freedom and democracy, particularly in light of Ukraine's current situation.
- The Daily Mail reported that King Charles III of the United Kingdom attended the anniversary event despite his recent cancer diagnosis, marking his first foreign visit since disclosing his health condition.
- In his emotional speech at the British Normandy Memorial, King Charles III highlighted the valor and resilience of the World War II veterans.8.[control_291] Belgian Queen Mathilde and Denmark's King Frederik X also participated in the commemoration event, saluting the D-Day heroes on the 80th anniversary.
- Located on the Atlantic coast of France, Omaha Beach was the site where Allied troops initiated their momentous landing during World War II.
- As part of the anniversary celebrations, various memorial services took place along the Normandy coast, paying tribute to the sacrifices made by the Allied forces in securing freedom and democracy.
