The British royal family have been out in force to mark the 75th D-Day commemorations this week.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended services in Normandy, Prince Harry travelled to the annual Founders Day Parade at Royal Hospital Chelsea while Prince William represented the Queen at a service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on Thursday morning.
The Duke of Cambridge, 36, delivered a speech in Heroes’ Square, remembering all who lost their lives during the 1944 Normandy landings, before laying a poppy wreath at the Normandy Campaign Memorial, 9Honey reports.
WATCH William’s speech for the fallen here:
The arrangement came with a handwritten note from the future King of England, which read:
“In memory of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We will remember them. William.”
Prince William, a former Royal Air Force pilot, spoke with 20 veterans from the D-Day landings at the ceremony including centenarian Pixie Jenkins, Express.co.uk reports.
Ms Jenkins, who served as a Wren in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, expressed sadness that people had forgotten the “ultimate sacrifice” made by troops: “I think so many youngsters today have forgotten about the men. They look at them and think, they’re old men now – to them, they’re just old men.
“And they’re not – they are wonderful, wonderful men that went over. I salute them all.”
The Duke went solo for the engagement, leaving wife Kate Middleton at home with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
During his speech, the Queen’s grandson quoted an address made by his great-grandfather King George VI, who sat on the British throne throughout the second world war.
“Four years ago, our nation and empire stood alone against an overwhelming enemy, with our backs to the wall.
“Now, once more, a supreme test has to be faced. This time the challenge is not to fight to survive, but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause.
“At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young or too old to play a part in a nationwide, perchance a worldwide vigil of prayer, as the great crusade sets forth.”
On Wednesday, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth also paid tribute to her monarch father in a short but powerful speech which noted the “heroism, courage and sacrifice” of the soldiers who lost their lives in WWII.
Her Majesty said: “In a broadcast to the nation at that time, my father, King George VI, said – ‘What is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance. We need a revival of spirit, a new, unconquerable resolve.'”
The Queen was joined by her son the Prince of Wales, British Prime Minister Theresa May and American President Donald Trump and his wife Melania to meet with World War II veterans on the final day of their state visit to Britain.
World leaders including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were also in attendance.
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