The Prince of Wales has spoken about commemorating D-Day in an interview with the BBC that aired yesterday – 75 years to the day of the Normandy invasion that spelt the beginning of the end for the Nazis.
His Royal Highness specifically spoke of the importance of remembering D-Day on the 75th anniversary. “This country lost so many countless special people. We owe it to them and their families to go on commemorating this,” he said.
He was asked what he meant for him to be at Normandy on the 75th anniversary to which he replied, “For me, it means a great deal. I mean I have been on previous anniversaries over the last few decades. And I always think about the people all around this country whose relations took part in D-Day and who everywhere will be thinking so much about their grandfathers or their fathers or great-grandfathers now.
“But also because I have been lucky to know so many of these veterans over my lifetime,” he continued.
The clip was shared on Clarence House’s Twitter page and has seen over 14,000 views.
They also spoke briefly about the portraits of several veterans that were commissioned by the Prince on the 70th anniversary.
“I always felt is absolutely key to try and have a record of all the people who have given so much to this country in one way or another,” he remarked
Regarding the 75th anniversary being especially poignant, the future king said, “It’s probably the last chance to pay everlasting respect to these remarkable people who wanted, above all, to do their duty.”
Prince Charles’s own family was impacted by World War Two with his mother, Her Majesty The Queen serving as a mechanic and working with the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during the war. His father, the Duke of Edinburgh also served during the Second World War in the Royal Navy.