The Queen and the Prince of Wales have been joined by world leaders for a special photo marking the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Beach landings. The historic image was taken as Elizabeth II and her heir arrived in Southsea, Portsmouth for the UK’s national commemoration for the D-Day anniversary.
Leaders representing the Allied Nations that took part in the D-Day landings, which began the operation to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation, were included. As is usual in D-Day commemorations, the German chancellor was also present as the focus remains on celebrating the peace that was won by the efforts of many.
In the historic photo, the Queen sits next to US President Donald Trump who is concluding his three day State Visit to the UK today. The Prince of Wales is on Elizabeth II’s other side. By him is the outgoing UK Prime Minister, Theresa May. The front row also includes France’s President, Emmanuel Macron and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte as well as the President of Greece, Prokopis Pavlopoulos.
The image was taken just before the Queen, Prince Charles and the world leaders joined veterans and their families for a special commemoration marking 75 years since D-Day. During the event, there were speeches from many of the leaders present including President Trump. Theresa May read a letter written by Captain Norman Skinner of the Royal Army Service Corps to his wife. It was penned on June 6th, a day before Captain Skinner was killed in action. Emmanuel Macron read the last letter of sixteen year old Henri Fertet who wrote a few lines to his parents in the minutes before he was taken away to be executed for fighting for the Resistance in France.
There were also performances commemorating and honouring all those who took part in the D-Day landings. And veterans took to the stage where they were cheered and applauded in one of the most moving parts of the commemoration.