D-Day 80th anniversary LIVE: King Charles leads British tributes to veterans as he calls on world to ‘oppose tyranny’ while Martin Freeman and Sir Tom Jones feature at memorial and Prince William attends Canadian service

Matthew Cox reports the anticipation, horror and chaos of the D-Day landings has been captured in rare colour images shot throughout the day that changed the course of European history.

They show how hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from the UK, the US, Canada, and France landed on Normandy beaches and attacked German forces.

To see the photographs and to read Matthew’s story click below:

A D-Day veteran broke down in tears as he called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease violence in Ukraine

Speaking to Channel 4 from Normandy, the unnamed veteran said:

Why do people have to hurt each other? It’s not necessary.

I wish Mr Putin could understand this. Because I think this world is, at the moment, a rather dangerous place, and I shouldn’t be. Not after what we’ve all experienced.

It’s very emotional for me, forgive me.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Normandy to take part in an international ceremony on Omaha Beach.

This event and day serve as a reminder of the courage and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of freedom and democracy.

Allies defended Europe’s freedom then, and Ukrainians do so now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today.

See the leader’s tweet below:

A D-Day veteran whose legs blown off during the Second World War was given a standing ovation at the British ceremony in Normandy earlier today.

Roy Hayward (pictured with Rishi Sunak), 98, served as a reserve tank crewman and landed on Gold Beach 80 years ago today.

The veteran appeared during today’s memorial where he was met with rapturous applause.

After meeting senior members of the Royal Family, Mr Hayward said:

They asked me how I got on and how I had my legs blown off.

I lost both of my legs but that’s nothing in comparison with what happened to other people and that’s always the attitude I’ve had.

Talking about the service he said:

It made me feel reminiscent and it has made me think of all the people who didn’t come back.

Joe Biden is about to address the ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery.

We will bring you the key lines from the US President’s speech

Prince William has laid a wreath on Juno Beach after he spoke at a Canadian memorial event for D-Day.

Flanked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, the heir laid a tribute with a handwritten note that said: ‘Remembering all Canadian acts of bravery and sacrifice 80 years ago.

‘Lest we forget. N’oublions jamais.’

Chatted to some of the veterans, the Prince asked one ex-soldier: ‘memories bringing it all back?’ before telling another Canadian serviceman ‘a lot of people were lying about their ages’.

On D-Day, 359 Canadian soldiers were killed, while more than 5,000 troops from the Commonwealth country died over the course of the 11-week Battle of Normandy.

Away from Normandy for a minute…pop star Emeli Sande has said she is preparing for an ’emotional’ bow at the Royal Albert Hall in a performance to honour D-Day veterans

Sande, whose grandfather fought in the Second World War, told GMB:

Both my grandparents – my mother’s parents – served in the Army and my grandfather fought in the Second World War, and I just remember from when I was young, him telling his stories and speaking about how different the country would have been, if it wasn’t for the bravery and the sacrifices of all these men and women.

So tonight, I’ll definitely be thinking of them both. It’s going to be a really emotional performance I think.

US President Joe Biden has been pictured meeting D-Day veterans before a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary at the Normandy American Cemetery.

Mr Biden arrived in Normandy this morning and will attend an international ceremony on Omaha Beach this afternoon.

Quite a remarkable story we can bring you from earlier as British paratroopers were met by French customs as they landed in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Footage shows the troops landing in a French field carrying their heavy bags, only to be forced to show their passports and documents to waiting officers.

MailOnline’s Sam Merriman has the story:

President Emmanuel Macron kept King Charles and Queen Camilla waiting at the D-Day memorial service after he was 20 minutes late, French media have reported.

The Royals were already sat waiting when France’s head of state finally arrived at the 80th anniversary event at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.

King Charles and Queen Camilla did not comment on the behaviour of Mr Macron, who was accompanied by his wife, Brigitte Macron.

But French media noticed what happened, and it was widely reported.

Cnews, the TV news outlet, wrote: ‘While the King and Queen of England were already installed, Emmanuel Macron and his wife arrived twenty minutes late for the Franco-British ceremony, which shocked the English.’

On Tuesday, Mr Macron was almost an hour late when he turned up at the first D-Day commemoration in Plumelec, Brittany.

There was no immediate comment from the Élysee Palace.

A 100-year-old D-Day veteran told Good Morning Britain he’s not a hero as he recalled the heartbreaking moment he learned his friend had been shot and killed.

Speaking from Normandy John Life said:

A friend next to me, he was behind, I glanced back, just to see if he was alright, he got one in the throat, and he was dead.

I was pleased to [come back to Normandy], because it’s always fascinating.

But then there was also the other side – things weren’t so nice, colleagues being killed.

To watch the interview see here:

French President Emmanuel Macron has thanked Wren officer Christian Lamb, a veteran officer in the Women’s Royal Naval Service.

In 1944, Mrs Lamb helped plan the D-Day landings from Churchill’s secret war rooms in London.

Describing how she left school at 18 and moved to Normandy, President Macron said:

You were one of the heroes in the shadows.

In 1939 officer Lamb got a telegram from her father, who was an admiral, to tell her war was imminent and to go back to London. But she began working as a clerk for the royal navy and then am officer.

You have set us an example we will not forget.

MailOnline’s Matthew Lodge and Lettice Bromovsky report King Charles paid tribute to the ‘remarkable wartime generation’ as he echoed his grandfather George VI.

What a morning it’s been with world leaders and the King appearing at memorial events across Normandy to remember the brave veterans who took part in D–Day – the military operation to liberate France from Nazi occupation.

If you’re just joining us you can recap our live coverage below or here are the main takeaways

• King Charles, Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron have paid tribute to D-Day veterans at a commemorative event at the British national memorial in Normandy
• The monarch praised the ‘remarkable wartime generation’ who he said showed ‘courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom’ in a speech partially delivered in French
• Prince William declared D-Day the most ambitious military operation in history as he spoke at a Canadian commemorative event in front of the country’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
• US President Joe Biden is also in Normandy ahead of an international ceremony on Omaha beach this afternoon
• Comes as events take place across France and the UK to mark the 80th anniversary with re-enactments on Normandy beaches at sunrise and a nationwide beacon lighting tonight.

Stick with us as we guide you through the commemorations.

Watch the moment Queen Camilla appeared taken by surprise as she was handed a white rose from a veteran at the British memorial in Normandy.

The Queen was shaking hands with veterans with French First Lady Brigitte Macron when she was handed the gift.

Here are some photographs of Prince William as he spoke at the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The Prince of Wales shook hands with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he praised the country for standing against fascism alongside the UK.

The Prince of Wales said he wanted to thank the Canadian veterans for their ‘extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice’ and he spoke of the continued bond between Canada and the UK.

All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered.

The commitment to service displayed by Canadian troops, is a great testament to the strength of the people of Canada.

Canada and the UK continue to stand side by side as we did in 1944. Just as strong together, 80 years later.

Ensuring the memory of those who fought for freedom lives on is why we’ve come together again today – to say thank you.

Prince William has declared D-Day remains the ‘most ambitious military operation in history’ but came at a ‘great cost’.

The Prince of Wales is speaking at at the Canadian commemorative ceremony on Juno Beach.

Watch the below footage of him expressing his gratitude to veterans.

We can now bring you footage of the moment actor Martin Freeman read the words of a D-Day veteran who landed on Gold Beach 80 years ago today.

Mr Freeman spoke the words of Joe Mines, who was present at the commemorative event held in Normandy.

King Charles and French President Emmanuel Macron have laid wreaths at the British memorial in Normandy following a service to honour D-Day veterans on the 80th anniversary of the military operation.

Emmanuel Macron smiled and shook the King’s hand after he spoke partially in French at the event.

Charles was seen laughing with the French president as the two spoke for a while.

The King then saluted during the Last Post and the silence that followed.

Some veterans stood and saluted while others remained in their chairs with their eyes closed.

The veterans have been saluted by the Red Arrows.

Before the King spoke in Normandy, Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones performed I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall.

Jones’ grandfather died in World War One, and is buried in France.

We can now bring you footage of the King’s address at a British memorial event to honour D-Day veterans.

The King paid tribute to the ‘remarkable war-time generation’ as he gave a speech at the UK national commemorative event in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Eighty years ago on D-Day, the 6th of June 1944, our nation – and those which stood alongside it – faced what my grandfather, King George 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.

Very many of them never came home, they lost their lives on the D-Day landing grounds or in the many battles that followed.

King Charles called on countries to unite and ‘oppose tyranny’ as he praised allied nations in his tribute to D-Day veterans

Speaking at the British memorial in Normandy, the King said:

How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the UK and other allied nations did not flinch when the moment came to face that test.

We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades: Free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny.

King Charles delivered part of his tribute to D-Day veterans in French as he called on people to take forward the message of ‘courage and resilience in pursuit of freedom’ that was left by those who didn’t make it home.

It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.

The King is now speaking at the British ceremony.

Over the past 40 years, I have had the great privilege of attending seven D-Day commemorations in Normandy and meeting so many distinguished veterans.

Indeed, I shall never forget the haunting sight and sound of thousands of bemedaled figures proudly marching past into a French sunset on these beaches.

Our ability to learn from their stories at first hand diminishes but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for us all can never diminish.

This is the moment King Charles appeared to be overcome with emotion during the British ceremony for D-Day veterans in Normandy.

Prince William has joined Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Juno Beach Centre near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer in Normandy.

French President Emmanuel Macron and the first lady Brigitte Macron have arrived at the British Normandy Memorial.

Macron tok his seat next to King Charles and Queen Camilla to watch the commemoration.

The French president will later be awarding France’s highest distinction, the Légion d’honneur, to veterans.

See the video below of his arrival:

Martin Freeman is present in Normandy and has read out the memories of Mr Mines, second Battalion Essex regiment, who landed on the beach at Normandy 80 years ago today.

Joe Mines, clearing mines. One of our fellows trod on one and blew his leg off. The whole leg went. War is brutal.

I was 19 when I landed, but I was still a boy. I don’t care what people say, I wasn’t a man, I was a boy. And I didn’t have any idea of war of war and killing.

I want to pay my respects to those who didn’t make it. May they rest in peace.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have released a tribute to D-Day veterans on social media as King Charles and Rishi Sunak attend a British ceremony in Normandy.

Prince William said in a heartfelt tribute: ‘Today we remember the bravery of those who crossed the sea to liberate Europe.

‘We will always remember those who served and those who waved them off.

‘The mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, who watched their loved ones go into battle, unsure if they would ever return.’

The Queen was seen wiping her eye as the memories of a D-Day veteran were read out.

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

Camilla dabbed her eye before smiling with the King as Mr Mines waved his arms in the air.

Martin Freeman is present in Normandy and has read out the memories of Mr Mines, second Battalion Essex regiment, who landed on the beach at Normandy 80 years ago today.

We can now bring you more pictures of King Charles and Queen Camilla after they arrived at a British ceremony to remember D-Day veterans on the 80th anniversary of the military operation.

Some veterans were helped from their wheelchairs to stand when the King and Queen arrived.

Charles was seen nodding and smiling at the veterans as he passed.

This is the moment Prime Minister Rishi Sunak led a standing ovation for Britain’s surviving D-Day veterans.

Mr Sunak told veterans ‘we owe you everything’ as he addressed the audience at the UK’s national commemoration event in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The King and Queen have arrived at the UK’s national commemoration event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France.

They were greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, his wife Akshata Murty and Lord Peter Ricketts, honorary president of the Normandy Memorial Trust, among other officials.

The King is dressed as a Field marshal and is carrying a Field Marshal’s baton. It was given to him by the late Queen, his mother.

Rishi Sunak is addresing more than 2,000 veterans and guests at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.

‘We are here to honour the service of those who did [serve],’ he said.

‘We are humbled to be with you and for what you did that day, we will always be grateful.

‘You risked everything and we owe you everything.’

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has been speaking with to D-Day veterans ahead of the UK national commemorative event in Normandy.

D-Day veteran Stan Mincher has just appeared on the BBC to remember ‘what a waste of time war is’ as he grieves the loss of his loved ones who died.

The veteran, 98, rejected the glorification of war, adding: ‘I commemorate. I think once again what a waste of time war is.

‘Most of my friends who died were a year or two older, my brother died, my stepmother died, a lot of my school friends died, that was a generation that was badly hit.

‘War is not pleasant, it’s not exciting, it doesn’t achieve much in the end, and there isn’t a need for it. It can be avoided.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived at the D-Day commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France.

The Prime Minister arrived with his wife Akshata Murty at the Memorial Entrance and will address an audience gathered to mark the 80th anniversary of the invasion later in the morning.

Mr Sunak shook hands with Grant Shapps as he walked along a receiving line of military officials.

Sir Keir Starmer could be seen speaking with Grant Shapps ahead of the UK National Commemorative Event.

The Labour leader and Defence Secretary were situated under a marquee where veterans will watch proceedings.

Watch our live stream of the British ceremony in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

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

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Normandy for the D-Day commemorations.

He was just spotted getting off Air Force One alongside First lady Jill Biden at Caen Carpiquet Airport in France.

The president will be attending commemoration ceremonies throughout the day

Royal Marines have recreated a D-Day beach landing to pay tribute to those who took part in the historic invasion.

Soldiers aboard a landing craft waded into the sea while a piper played on the beach at Asnelles

Spectators clapped as the troops came ashore, some carrying wreaths.

Major Andy Atkinson, Officer Commanding 47 Commando Royal Marines, told spectators lined on the beach wall and grass on the hill overlooking the sea that he served in Iraq and Afghanistan but ‘nothing compares’ to D-Day.

‘Where we are standing now is smoke and fire,’ he said describing the reality of the operation 80 years ago.

Rishi Sunak will miss the major international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day but Sir Keir Starmer will mingle with world leaders at the Omaha Beach event.

The Prime Minister is attending events in Normandy including speaking at the major British ceremony, but will not be present alongside leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden at the international gathering.

With the general election campaign in full swing, the Tory leader will head back to the UK – but his rival Sir Keir will be at the high-profile international event in Normandy.

A Tory source played down the diplomatic impact of the PM’s absence, pointing out he will see Mr Macron, Mr Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other key leaders at the G7 summit in Italy next week.

The Prince of Wales and senior ministers will represent the UK at the international event, joining more than 25 heads of state and veterans for the official ceremony on Omaha Beach, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

Britons have been paying tribute to their relatives on social media this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Many people have posted to say they are remembering their grandparents and ancestors.

Here is just a selection we can show you:

For D-Day veterans, today’s commemorations to mark 80 years since the military operation to liberate Nazi-occupied France are likely going to be the last major anniversary they will attend, according to the director-general of the Royal British Legion.

Mark Atkinson said it felt ‘momentous’ to be in Normandy today with surviving veterans but admitted those with living memories of the event may pass away in the coming years.

It does feel momentous to be here on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy that followed

They’re incredibly sprightly – we’ve got a group with us who are arranging between 98 and 103 years of age, all coming in on the beaches down here.”

The next one will be 85 (years), the brutal truth is there simply won’t be many veterans left.

But it’s our job at the Royal British Legion to make sure that that service is remembered.

It wasn’t until after the thundering guns and screams of men on the beaches of northern France grew quiet that Les Underwood knew he had taken part in the D-Day landings.

The Royal Navy gunner was one of 160,000 men sailing in a vast armada of 3,000 landing craft, 2,500 ships and 500 ancillary craft and merchant vessels, tasked with launching the liberation of Europe.

Describing the military operation as the ‘privilege of his life’, the 98-year-old still recalls with vivid clarity what he saw and heard as the allied assault began that day.

Read his story here as well as other D-Day heroes reported by Cameron Roy, Sam Merriman and Amogh George:

Former UK ambassador to France Lord Peter Ricketts is in Normandy this morning for the D-Day 80th anniversary.

Remembering all those who died, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme:

It’s commemoration, certainly not celebration.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, commemorations have taken on a new significance, according to Lord Ricketts, with President Putin not invited to this year’s remembrance events.

‘What Russia has done since then makes it impossible for a senior Russian representative to be here,’ he said.

Reform Party UK leader Nigel Farage walked on Gold Beach at sunrise during a private visit to Normandy this morning.

He posed with re-enactors on Gold Beach in Arromanches in Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing.

Mr Farage tweeted on the eve of the 80th anniversary.

Jonathan Mayo, author of D-Day: Minute by Minute, has written a blow by blow account of the operation as seen through the eyes of people who were there – from soldiers to French villagers to journalists.

The military piper who played a lament on the bagpipes in a tradition to recreate the exact moment thousands of British troops disembarked onto French beaches has described it as a ‘humbling and privileged experience’.

Major Trevor Macey-Lillie (pictured above), piper with the Scottish gunners, performed the lament at Gold Beach in Arromanches at sunrise today.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said:

I was here on the 75th anniversary, and I was asked to come back for the 80th.

We are here to represent and remember the veterans who are still here today and the young soldiers of old who didn’t make it home.

We can now bring you pictures of the ceremony this morning on Gold Beach where a giant poppy was displayed on the sand for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Crowds of re-enactors with their wartime vehicles, and visitors had previously filled the area as the sun rose.

People were seen writing in the sand and wandering the beach cupping hot drinks in their hands as they looked out to sea.

Following the piper’s lament, a French church service was held and military planes flew over head.

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:

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:

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.

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:

Let’s bring you our top story on MailOnline as Robert Hardman joins 100 veterans known as the ‘lucky ones’ and Princess Anne for poignant D-Day tributes.

Read Robert’s piece here:

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

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

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

• 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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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

We will be providing live coverage throughout the day.

MailOnline has produced this explainer with everything you need to know about the Normandy landings and why it is known as D-Day.

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.