King Charles is abroad for the first time since starting cancer treatment.
King Charles’ trip to France is his most major event since resuming public-facing duties in late April after the Palace announced that he was diagnosed with cancer and commenced treatment in February. The King continued to work behind the scenes during this period.
The King, stepped out in Normandy, France, to honor the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings with his wife, Queen Camillia, on June 6. The royal couple traveled to attend the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s event at the beachfront British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer.
The service was organized in honor of the massive military operation involving around 156,000 men, 7,000 ships, and 10,000 vehicles that attacked German forces in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The campaign served as a crucial turning point in World War II and the beginning of the liberation of Nazi-occupied northwest Europe.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, 76, attended the British Normandy Memorial event with French President Emmanuel Macron and British veterans, where they met retired service personnel. The royals also opened the new Winston Churchill Education and Learning Centre, named after the prime minister who led the U.K. through World War II.
Standing in front of the massed names of the service personnel who died on the day and “in the many battles that followed,” as Charles put it, he said in a speech, that his grandfather George VI called the event “the supreme test.”
They were a generation “of men and women who did not flinch when the moment came to face that test.”
He also spoke about his pride in being present at seven different commemorations in Normandy over the past four decades. “I shall never forget the haunting sights and sounds of thousands of be-medalled figures proudly marching past into a French sunset on these beaches,” he said.
Talking of those who lost their lives, Charles added, “Let us affirm that we will strive to live by their example; let us pray such sacrifice need never be made again; and let us commit to carrying forward their resounding message of courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom, tempered by the duty of responsibilities to others, for the benefit of younger generations and those yet unborn.”
“Our gratitude is unfailing and our admiration eternal,” Charles concluded.
While the King traveled to France for commemorations, he is not expected to join world leaders – including Macron and his US counterpart Joe Biden – later Thursday as they assemble at Omaha Beach to honor troops for their bravery and sacrifice eight decades ago. Instead, Prince William will represent Britain’s royal family at the international ceremony at Omaha Beach.
The ceremony ended with the laying of wreaths at the memorial by Charles and then President Macron, the playing of the national anthems, including God Save The King, and a flypast by the RAF Red Arrows.
Charles’ speech followed a rendition by singer Sir Tom Jones of I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall. Jones’ grandfather died in World War I and is buried in France.
