Biden salutes D-Day veterans at 80-year anniversary ceremony near Omaha Beach
US President Joe Biden has saluted veterans during the 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy, calling it the "highest honour" to have done so.
Mr Biden, during his opening address at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer near Omaha Beach, turned to the veterans who were seated on stage and gave them a salute.
He said: "On behalf of the American people, it's the highest honour to be able to salute you in Normandy once more. All of you. God love you."
President Biden added: "Every one of them knew the probability of dying was real, but they did it anyway.
"They knew beyond any doubt that there were things worth fighting and dying for."
The President witnessed multiple US veterans being awarded the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit, by President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the ceremony.
The US President also acknowledged the thousands of people of colour and women who "courageously" served during the Second World War.
He said: "Every soldier who stormed the beach, who dropped by parachute or landed by glider.
"Every sailor who manned the thousands of ships and landing craft.
"Every aviator who destroyed German-controlled airfields, bridges and railroads.
"All, all were backed by other brave Americans, including hundreds of thousands of people of colour and women who courageously served despite the unjust limitation on what they could do for their nation."
Mr Biden also emphasised how then Ukrainians had captured the spirit of D-Day, describing the conflict with Russia as being a struggle between dictatorship and freedom.
"Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant, they're fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses but never backing down," he said.
The US President concluded his speech with a call to arms against the "tyrant" that threatens Western democracies.
"History tells us freedom is not free. If you want to know the price of freedom, come here to Normandy," he said.
"Remember, the price of unchecked tyranny is the blood of the young and the brave.
"In their hour of trial, the Allied forces of D-Day did their duty. Now the question for us is, in our hour of trial, will we do ours?"
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also thanked the veterans, telling them: "Victors of D-Day, we are humbled by your presence.
"The young Americans who fought through the clamour and the chaos of D-Day have grown old or left us.
"And whenever a veteran of D-Day is gathered to his maker in the fullness of time, after a long life lived in freedom, he wins a final victory over Hitler.
"Let us again thank the heroes of D-Day who kept freedom alive for us all. You saved the world."
Earlier, King Charles spoke of his "profound sense of gratitude" to those who fought in the D-Day invasion, when he addressed veterans during the commemorations in Normandy.
Veterans could be seen wiping their eyes with tissues as Charles spoke at the national commemorative event in France.
The King and Queen also appeared emotional during the service, and the Queen wiped her eye as the memories of one D-Day veteran were read to the crowd in Ver-sur-Mer.
Prince William earlier today delivered a speech at the ceremony on Juno Beach praising the "bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian troops, who gave so much 80 years ago".
He was joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, Canadian D-Day veterans and armed forces personnel in Courseulles-sur-Mer in France.
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