Moment lone piper pays tribute to D-Day heroes as King takes first trip abroad since cancer diagnosis to meet veterans

NORMANDY fell silent in solemn scenes this morning as a lone piper played at the exact moment of the beach landing 80 years ago.

King Charles is due to head to the French beach today to pay tribute to the heroes of D-Day on his first international trip since his cancer diagnosis.

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This morning the song of a military flutist sounded at Praia do Ouro, in Arromanches, to mark the anniversary of the D-Day beach invasions.

Major Trevor Macey-Lillie stood out as he paid tribute to fallen veterans.

He was playing for those who led the greatest seaborne invasion in military history – and played Highland Laddie as he came ashore.

Crowds are expected to gather on French beaches to pay tribute today.

Charles and Queen Camilla are due to arrive at the British Normandy Memorial this morning.

It is there that the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who died on D-Day are engraved.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are also expected to attend – and announce how their parties would support veterans.

While King Charles is in Normandy, he will open the new Winston Churchill Education and Learning Center.

Prince William is expected to head to Juno Beach this morning, where he will lay a wreath and pay his respects.

It comes after King Charles gave his first speech since his cancer diagnosis yesterday.

The Monarch told the D-Day heroes and their families that the nation was “forever in their debt”.

Both Charles and Queen Camilla appeared emotional as the last surviving veterans shared their heartbreaking stories.

Camilla’s eyes filled with tears as Navy veteran Eric Bateman recalled fearlessly landing on the beaches of northern France.

The king spoke after Prince William, who looked solemn as he told the last surviving veterans how honored he was to be at their side.

Charles gave a moving speech with Camilla by his side, telling the veterans and their families: “We are all forever in their debt.”

The King, who proudly wore medals on his chest, said: “The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity we hear today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us, inspire us and remind us of what we owe to that. great wartime generation, now tragically reduced to so few.”

Charles said it was our privilege to hear the stories, continuing: “It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget your service and your sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”

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Wills was not far from some of the country’s last surviving veterans as they recalled the campaign that paved the way for peace and freedom in Europe.

He also took the stage, saying how “deeply honored” he was to join them today.

The prince told the crowd: “Our guests of honor today are the veterans of the Normandy landings, who have come from across our nation and from all walks of life to join the fight against tyranny.

“Many of those who took up arms had never seen combat before, some were still teenagers.”

The prince then read moving letters from war heroes’ diaries, before adding: “We will always remember those who served and those who discharged them.

“The mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, the sons and daughters who watched their loved ones go into battle, not knowing if they would ever return.

“Today we remember the bravery of those who crossed this sea to liberate Europe. Those who ensured Operation Overlord was a success.

“And those who waited for your safe return.”

D-Day Veterans Overflow with Pride and Emotion

By Mike Ridley

EIGHTY years after they first sailed to Normandy to liberate France, a small group of brothers returned on Tuesday.

Former RAF sergeant Bernard Morgan and jeep driver Jack Mortimer, both aged 100, were among 23 D-Day veterans who set out from Portsmouth yesterday.

As the 8am ferry departed for the Solent, sailors lined the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to cheer on the last of the D-Day heroes.

Crowds thronged the seafront and traffic was disrupted as the Type 23 frigate St Albans and HMS Cattistock escorted veterans traveling to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle for Nomandy, when 22,442 Britons died.

Above, a giant RAF A400 aircraft flew around the ship three times.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Jack, from Leeds, drove a jeep to Sword Beach aged 20, serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

He fought back tears as he remembered grenades and mortars flying at him as he drove towards Caen.

He says: “It was dangerous, there were shooters everywhere. It was noisy, smoky, smelly and I saw many victims. I saw bodies being brought from that beach.

“But I’m proud to be a D-Day veteran. I’m proud of my medals.

“How does it feel to come back 80 years later?

He fought back tears as he remembered grenades and mortars flying at him as he drove towards Caen.

He says: “It was dangerous, there were shooters everywhere. It was noisy, smoky, smelly and I saw many victims. I saw bodies being brought from that beach.

“But I’m proud to be a D-Day veteran. I’m proud of my medals.

“How does it feel to come back 80 years later?

He finally reached the coast at 6:30 pm on D-Day – the worst of the fighting was over, but there were bodies everywhere.

He says: “Gold Beach was one of the best landing spots on D-Day, but I still vividly remember seeing dead bodies strewn all over the beach when I disembarked and that is a sight that will stay with me forever.”

Bernard will remember three friends he lost in the battle for Normandy – wireless operator John Baines, killed by friendly fire, plus Robert Hall and Paul Langstaff, who died in an air raid on their truck.