D-Day veteran Jim Miller was honoured to meet The King and Queen 01062024 CREDIT RBL
D-Day veteran Jim Miller was honoured to meet the King and Queen (Picture: Royal British Legion)
D-Day

D-Day veteran presented with his 100th birthday card in person by King Charles

D-Day veteran Jim Miller was honoured to meet The King and Queen 01062024 CREDIT RBL
D-Day veteran Jim Miller was honoured to meet the King and Queen (Picture: Royal British Legion)

D-Day veteran Jim Miller has received a special surprise for his 100th birthday after being invited to Buckingham Palace.

He was "delighted" to have been presented with his birthday card by the King.

Mr Miller, who said he was humbled have reached such an age, served in the 11th Hussars during the Second World War and reflected on his role in the Normandy Landings.

Mr Miller landed on the beaches in June 1944 and took part in the Allied military operation to liberate occupied France and Western Europe.

He said: "I was totally surprised and delighted to be invited to Buckingham Palace!

"It was a special day and a real honour for me to meet the King and be presented with my 100th birthday card.

"I am humbled to reach such a great number, especially when I think of those who fell on the Normandy beaches all those years ago.

"The King was very interested to hear about my military service and personal experience of such a momentous and harrowing time.

"I am proud that I can still share my memories with the generations that come after me and thankful that young people are interested in what happened.

"I'm looking forward to attending the Royal British Legion's commemorations at the National Memorial Arboretum in June."

Mr Miller, who was born in London but now lives in South Wales, volunteered for the Army when he was 18 after failing a hearing test for the Royal Air Force.

Drafted into the Royal Armoured Corps, Mr Miller became a driver and wireless operator in armoured cars.

He landed on Juno Beach on 9 June at the age of 20, after arriving on the deck of an American ship with armoured cars in the hold.

The King, who is a patron of the Royal British Legion, will attend the RBL's commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

British Normandy Memorial Credit MOD
The MOD and the Royal British Legion will host the UK's national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the British Normandy Memorial (Picture: MOD)

Thousands of members of the public will join D-Day veterans, Armed Forces personnel and special guests at major commemorative events to pay tribute to the "greatest-ever generation".

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will help lead tributes for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings at events in Portsmouth and Normandy on 5 and 6 June 2024.

Forces News has taken a look here at what the national commemorations will include and where they are being held.

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