KING Charles still bravely managed to arrive at two D-Day events despite facing cancer treatment as he was desperate to honor our veterans.
The 75-year-old monarch was admitted to a London hospital on Tuesday, but joined veterans and world leaders in Normandy later in the week to “lead from the front”.
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With medical advice and support from Camilla and the Prince of Wales, Charles managed to make the appearances through “carefully calibrated” arrangements.
The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson told how: “He had cancer treatment on Tuesday. He was in a London hospital for treatment, but was so anxious to get to both events that he carefully calibrated the Portsmouth event.
“Charles arrived 45 minutes late to the event for medical reasons because he was recovering from cancer treatment.
“Then he immediately went to France for the British event. Then he left before the international event.
“He was desperate to go for both. Cancer treatment is difficult, but he was very eager to get to both.”
The king traveled to Portsmouth on Wednesday morning and gave an eight-minute speech that left tears in Queen Camilla’s eyes.
He still found time to mingle with the heroes of D-Day and read a moving speech saluting the generation that “did not falter.”
Charles then traveled 200 kilometers to Normandy for 80th birthday ceremonies.
There he gave an impassioned speech at the British Normandy Memorial, where the names of 22,442 fallen heroes are engraved.
He saluted when the time to act arrived. And he urged the world to learn from the past, calling on free nations to “come together to oppose tyranny.”
Royal sources said: “All events have been reviewed in consultation with doctors. They were extremely long days and some compromises had to be made.”
Charles’ dedication to veterans came as the Prime Minister left D-Day celebrations early.
Rishi Sunak’s decision was yesterday labeled a “significant error” by Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer.
Sunak returned home from France to film an ITV interview, sending Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron in his place to an international event.
The Prime Minister issued an apology for missing the commemorative ceremony, admitting: “It was a mistake not to stay longer in France and I apologize.”
Mercer told The Sun: “Obviously it’s a mistake.
“The PM on these visits receives a lot of advice about what he should and shouldn’t do.
“I spoke to the PM this morning and obviously it’s disappointing, but I think the fake outrage from people who have done nothing but make my life difficult by trying to improve Veterans Affairs is quite nauseating.”
Charles spent three nights in hospital in January with an enlarged prostate and tests later revealed he had cancer.
The Sun revealed in April how doctors were so impressed with the progress of his recovery that he was cleared to return to carefully prepared frontline duties.
The king’s speech
The King paid tribute to the “remarkable wartime generation”.
Charles said: “Eighty years ago, on D-Day, June 6, 1944, our nation – and those who stood by it – faced what my grandfather, King George VI, described as the ultimate test.
“How fortunate were we, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the United Kingdom and other Allied nations did not falter when the time came to face this test.
“On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond and in the skies, our armed forces did their duty with a humble sense of resolve and resolve – qualities so characteristic of that remarkable wartime generation.
“Many of them never returned home, losing their lives on the D-Day landing fields or in the many battles that followed.
“It is with the deepest sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time.
“We remember the lesson we have been taught repeatedly over the decades – free nations must unite to oppose tyranny.”
Charles continued: “As the years pass, the veterans of the Normandy campaign become fewer and fewer.
“Over the past 40 years, I have had the great privilege of participating in seven D-Day commemorations in Normandy and meeting so many distinguished veterans.
“Indeed, I will never forget the haunting sight and sound of thousands of decorated figures marching proudly towards a French sunset on these beaches.
“Our ability to learn from their stories firsthand diminishes, but our obligation to remember them, what they stood for and what they achieved for all of us can never diminish.”
Concluding his speech, the King spoke of his “unfailing” gratitude to those who lost their lives on D-Day, 80 years ago.
Charles said: “This vital beginning to the liberation of Europe was a vast Allied effort.
“American, British, Canadian, French and Polish formations fought here in Normandy.
“Among the names inscribed on the walls and pillars of this memorial are men and women from more than 30 different nations and many religions.
“United, they fought together for what my grandfather, King George VI, described as ‘a world in which goodness and honor can be the basis of life for men in all lands.’
“As we stand with your remaining friends and comrades on this hallowed ground, let us affirm that we will strive to live up to your example, pray that such a sacrifice will never be made again, and commit ourselves to carrying forward your resounding message of courage and resilience in the pursuit of freedom, tempered by duty of responsibility towards others, for the benefit of younger generations and those not yet born.
“Our gratitude is unwavering and our admiration eternal.”
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