We are now closing this blog but you can read all our coverage of the 80th anniversary of D-day here.
A summary of today's developments
French president Emmanuel Macron presented three US veterans with the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest order of merit, at the international ceremony at Omaha beach in Normandy, France. The gathering was to mark 6th June 1944 when allied troops took part in Operation Overlord, a combined naval, air and land assault on the beaches of Normandy, which led to the liberation of Europe and the end of the second world war.
Macron said France and its allies will stand with Ukraine. “We are here and will not weaken,” he said in a speech also attended by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife. The Prince of Wales , Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and French prime minister Gabriel Attal also attended.
US president Joe Biden called for the world to stand together to defend freedom and democracy in memory of those who sacrificed lives on D-Day. Speaking in Normandy, he said: “To bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable. To do that would be forgetting what happened on these hallowed beaches. We will not forget.
“History tells us freedom is not free. If you want to know the price of freedom, come to Normandy and look.”
The Prince of Wales thanked Canadian veterans for their “extraordinary acts of bravery and sacrifice” and he spoke of the continued bond between Canada and the UK. Prince William, at the Canadian commemorative ceremony on Juno Beach, said: “All of you demonstrated heroism, and determination, that ensured fascism was conquered. “The commitment to service displayed by Canadian troops, is a great testament to the strength of the people of Canada. Canada and the UK continue to stand side by side as we did in 1944. Just as strong together, 80 years later.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla opened a new educational centre close to the British Normandy memorial in France. The couple toured the Winston Churchill Centre for Education and Learning.
Updated
