PRINCE William spoke warmly about Princess Kate and her grandmother today following D-Day celebrations.
The Heir joined his father, Queen Camilla and other leaders this morning as they stood alongside war heroes at a moving birthday event in Portsmouth.
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King Charles and Wills took the stage, paying tribute to veterans and their families.
William revealed that Kate was feeling “better”, adding: “She would love to be here today.”
While talking to the audience, William spoke to a woman about Princess Kate – and her grandmother.
Speaking to a woman said to be a Bletchley Park codebreaker, Wills said: “My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you.
“Catherine only found out at the end of her life.”
Valerie Middleton, Kate’s grandmother, worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park who cracked the Enigma code.
The Prince also spoke to other veterans – thanking them for their service and telling them how special it had been.
He said: “I found all the stories and letters very moving, even now, 80 years later.
When a hero said ‘thank you’ to Wills, the Prince of Wales replied: “No, we are here to thank you.”
William said: “We’re here to say a big thank you to you and all your colleagues and friends who didn’t make it back.”
The king was introduced to a 99-year-old paratrooper who will turn 100 in August, and Charles said: “I’ll have your card ready.”
Earlier in the day, the Monarch gave his first speech since his cancer diagnosis.
He stood with medals on his chest and Camilla at 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.”
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.
I found all the stories and letters very moving, even now, 80 years later.
Prince William
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.
We are all forever in their debt.
King Charles
“And those who waited for your safe return.”
Dame Helen led the moving event, praising the bravery of veterans sitting nearby.
She told the masses: “The presence today of some of those who contributed to this remarkable undertaking is an extraordinary privilege.
“Your bravery remains as inspiring now as it was eight decades ago. Thank you.”
PM Rishi Sunak also took to the stage and read letters from veterans.
Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron were also at the event, hosted by the Ministry of Defense on Southsea Common.
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 yesterday.
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.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
