SPECIAL MENTION
Prince William says Kate ‘is getting better’ & ‘would love to be here’ with Charles & Camilla at D-Day anniversary
Wills and King Charles made moving speeches at anniversary event
PRINCE William offered an update on Princess Kate's health as he chatted warmly to veterans after today's D-Day commemorations.
The Heir joined his father, Queen Camilla and other leaders alongside war heroes in a moving anniversary event in Portsmouth.
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King Charles and William both took to the stage to pay tribute to the veterans and their families.
Afterwards, William revealed Kate was feeling "better", adding: "She would've loved to be here today."
In a sweet clip that showed Prince William bending down to chat with a 95-year-old veteran he was asked: "I was going to ask you is your wife getting any better?"
William revealed she was well, before adding: "I was reminding everyone her grandmother used to work at Bletchley Park.
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"She had a lot in common with some of the ladies here who never spoke about anything until the very end."
William spoke to a Bletchley Park codebreaker about Princess Kate's grandma Valerie, who also helped to break the Enigma code.
He said: “My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you. Catherine only found out at the end of her life.”
The Prince spoke to other veterans, too - thanking them for their service and telling them how special it had been.
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He said: "I found it very moving, all the stories and letters, even now 80 years later."
When one hero said "thank you", the Prince of Wales replied: “No, we are here to thank you.”
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William said: “We are here to say a big thank you and to all your colleagues and friends who didn’t make it back.”
Meanwhile, the King was introduced to a 99-year-old paratrooper who turns 100 in August. Charles said: “I’ll have your card ready.”
Earlier in the day the Monarch made his first speech since his cancer diagnosis.
He stood tall with medals on his chest and Camilla at his side, telling veterans and their families: "We are all eternally in their debt."
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He added: "The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity which you have heard today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us, to inspire us and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation, now tragically dwindling to so few."
Charles said it was our privilege to hear the stories.
He added: "It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom."
Wills stood not far from some of the country's last surviving veterans as they looked back on the campaign that opened the path to peace and freedom in Europe.
I found it very moving, all the stories and letters, even now 80 years later
Prince William
He also took to the stage, saying how "deeply honoured" he was to be joining them.
The prince told the crowds: "Our guests of honour today are those veterans from the Normandy landing, that came from across our nation and from all walks of life to join in the fight against tyranny.
"Many of those that took up arms had never seen combat before, some were still only in their teens."
The prince then read out moving letters from diaries of war heroes, before adding: "We will always remember those who served and those who waved them off.
"The mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who watched their loved ones go into battle, unsure if they would ever return.
"Today we remember the bravery of those who crossed this sea to liberate Europe. Those who ensured that Operation Overlord was a success.
D-Day veterans brim with pride and emotion
By Mike Ridley
EIGHTY years after they first sailed to Normandy to liberate France a tiny band of brothers returned yesterday.
Former RAF Sergeant Bernard Morgan and Jeep driver Jack Mortimer, both 100, were among 23 D-Day veterans who sailed from Portsmouth yesterday.
As the 8am ferry sailed out into the Solent sailors lined the decks of aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to cheer on the last of the D-Day heroes.
Crowds flocked to the sea front and traffic came to halt as the Type 23 frigate St Albans and HMS Cattistock escorted the veterans travelling to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the battle for Nomandy when 22,442 Brits died.
Overhead a giant RAF A400 aircraft flew three times around the ship.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Jack, from Leeds, drove a jeep on to Sword Beach as a 20-year-old serving with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
He fought back tears as he recalled shells and mortars flying over him as he drove towards Caen.
He says: “It was dangerous, there were snipers all around. It was noisy, smoky, smelly and I saw lots of casualties. I saw bodies being brought off that beach.
“But I'm proud of being a D-Day veteran. I'm proud of my medals.
“How does it feel to be going back 80 years later?
He fought back tears as he recalled shells and mortars flying over him as he drove towards Caen.
He says: “It was dangerous, there were snipers all around. It was noisy, smoky, smelly and I saw lots of casualties. I saw bodies being brought off that beach.
“But I'm proud of being a D-Day veteran. I'm proud of my medals.
“How does it feel to be going back 80 years later?
He finally reached the shore at 6.30pm on D-Day – the worst of the fighting was over but dead bodies lay everywhere.
He says: “Gold Beach was one of the better landing points on D-Day, but I can still vividly remember seeing dead bodies scattered all over the beach as I came ashore and that is a sight that will stay with me forever.”
Bernard will remember three pals 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 attack on their truck.
"And those who waited for their safe return."
Dame Helen led the moving event, praising the bravery of the veterans sat nearby.
She told the masses: "The presence today of some of those who contributed to that remarkable venture is an extraordinary privilege.
"Your bravery remains as inspiring now as it was eight decades ago. Thank you."
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PM Rishi Sunak also took to the stage and read veterans' letters.
Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron were also at the event, hosted by the Ministry of Defence at Southsea Common.
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