The 75th anniversary of D-Day

The Queen meets with veterans and foreign dignitaries. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/AP

Royal family members were seen out at several events and dedications in honor of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in World War II. 

To begin, the Queen attended and spoke at a commemorative event in Portsmouth. Her Majesty referenced her father, King George V's D-Day broadcast and paid tribute to the bravery of the soldiers who were involved in the combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. The Queen is the only remaining head of State to have served during World War II as she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945 when she turned 18. 

The Prince of Wales accompanied the Queen to the commemorative event in Portsmouth. The following day, he and the Duchess of Cornwall attended the British  Legion Services of Remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral and Bayeux Cemetery. The Prince of Wales laid the first wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice.

Following the Service the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall met with veterans and international dignitaries that were there in honor of the anniversary. The Duchess is Colonel-in-Chief of the Queens own Rifles of Canada and  the Prince is Patron of the Normandy Memorial Trust. Representatives from both were there and met with the Prince and Duchess. 

The Duke of Cambridge attended a service in Heroes Square at the National Memorial Arboretum. He laid a wreath at the Normandy Campaign memorial and met with veterans and members of the public. The Kensington Royal social accounts also highlighted a song recorded by Jim Redfod, a D-Day veteran who served the Merchant Navy on the Empire Larch at the age of 15. 

The Duke of Sussex also attended an event in honor of D-Day, visiting the Royal Hospital Chelsea to meet with six Chelsea Pensioners who took part in the Normandy Landings. The visit was for the annual Founders Day Parade which commemorated King Charles II's founding of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 1681. 

The D-Day operation is thought to be the largest military operation in history as it included a naval, air and land assault. The attack saw over 400,000 combined casualties and is commemorated each June for the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who took part in it.

xx