Queen joins world leaders to mark 'courage' of D-Day veterans in Portsmouth
Events at Portsmouth will tell the story of the build-up to D-Day through music performance and readings.
Wednesday 5 June 2019 07:20, UK
The Queen will lead a host of world leaders to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day at a special event on the south coast of England later today.
In a message to mark the occasion, she has praised the "immense bravery, ingenuity and determination" of troops who set sail to defeat Nazi forces.
The Queen added: "At this time of reflection for veterans of the conflict and their families, I am sure that these commemorations will provide an opportunity to honour those who made extraordinary sacrifices to secure freedom in Europe. They must never be forgotten."
She will be joined by the leaders of 15 nations, including Theresa May, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, and Justin Trudeau. Senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, will also be in attendance.
They will be joined by D-Day veterans and serving personnel to marking the turning point in the history of Europe thousands of soldiers set sail to invade occupied France.
"It is thanks to their courage and that of other allies that today Europe is free and at peace," the Prime Minister has said.
"We will never forget all that they gave - or the sacrifices of the fallen."
More than 4,400 allied servicemen were killed on D-Day, more than half of them American.
The events in Portsmouth will tell the story of the build-up to D-Day through a programme of live music, performance and readings. A Royal Naval frigate will fire a gun salute before a flypast of historic aircraft including the Red Arrows and Spitfire.
Commenting on the two days of commemorations, the Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "D-Day 75 is an unprecedented tribute to our Second World War generation. These commemorations will give young and old the opportunity to learn why we should never forget the debt we owe for the peace and freedom we now enjoy."
At the same time, an extraordinary display of 35 World War Two Dakota aircraft will take off from Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire, escorted by Spitfires, Hurricanes and Mustangs.
They will cross the channel in formation and drop paratroopers into Normandy, re-enacting events of 1944 when thousands landed under the cover of darkness behind enemy lines to prepare the ground for the amphibious invasion.
The Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 was the largest amphibious assault ever launched. More than 75,000 British, Canadian and other Commonwealth troops landed on the beaches alongside the United States and the Free French, in an Allied invasion force of more than 130,000. Another 7,900 British troops were landed by air. Supporting the invasion were more than 7,000 ships and 11,000 aircraft.
"It is fitting that we take huge pride in the parts played by our forebears in the greatest amphibious operation in history," said the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter.
"D-Day was the last big operation of the war to be dominated by British commanders, British planning and British genius. Rightly this week we will focus on the sacrifice of those who gave their lives assaulting the beaches on D-Day."
A proclamation promising to ensure the "unimaginable horror" of the Second World War doesn't happen again has been signed by the 16 countries attending the D-Day commemorations.
It reads: "We stand together today to honour the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on D-Day, and those many millions of men and women who lost their lives during the Second World War, the largest conflict in human history.
"We affirm that it is our shared responsibility to ensure that the unimaginable horror of these years is never repeated.
"Over the last 75 years, our nations have stood up for peace in Europe and globally, for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law.
"We re-commit today to those shared values because they support the stability and prosperity of our nations and our people. We will work together as allies and friends to defend these freedoms whenever they are threatened."
It ends: "We will ensure that the sacrifices of the past are never in vain and never forgotten."
The ceremony in Portsmouth will bring to an end President Trump's three day State Visit to the UK. He will then travel to Ireland where he will stay overnight and then onto Normandy for further events on Thursday, the anniversary of the invasion.