King Charles: Our obligation to remember D-Day veterans can never diminish
The King has spoken of his "profound sense of gratitude" to those who fought in the D-Day invasion, as he addressed veterans during 80th anniversary 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.
During his speech, King Charles told the audience: "It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time."
He paid tribute to the "remarkable war-time generation" as he continued: "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.
"It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time.
"We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades – free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny."
The King added: "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."
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 ceremony was staged just metres from Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer in Normandy, where some 14,000 Canadians came ashore in the face of heavy enemy fire on 6 June 1944.
Spectators were gathered around a small stage, and in the front row were some of the few remaining veterans who fought to establish a base on the beach 80 years ago to the day.
Schoolchildren presented veterans attending the UK's national commemoration event with white roses while cadets waved flags.
US President Joe Biden later 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."
Elsewhere, Prince William 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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