The Queen was moved to tears at the 80th anniversary of D-Day as a veteran recounted the horror of losing his best friend on the beaches of Normandy.
Camilla was overcome with emotion as she heard Royal Navy soldier Eric Bateman tell his story, and King Charles wiped his eyes.
The couple attended a major event in Portsmouth on Wednesday, along with the Prince of Wales and leading British politicians and veterans.
Charles paid tribute to the veterans’ “courage, resilience and unity”, adding that “we are all forever grateful to them”.
Mr Bateman shared the stage with his two great-grandchildren. He served on the Erebus alongside the American fleet as it made its way to the coast of Utah.
He spoke of “ships as far as the eye could see,” and added, “We could have walked across the channel.” My great-grandson.
“Many men and women joined us, including my dear friend Fred, who unfortunately couldn’t make it to the end.
“I am proud to be here today with you all, and that we will always remember you.”
His great-granddaughters then took the microphone to thank all the soldiers who invaded Normandy. “Without them, we would not have had the freedoms we enjoy today.
“We will never forget. Thank you.”
Charles addressed the crowd, saying, “The stories of courage, resilience and unity that we have heard today, and throughout our lives, move us, inspire us, and remind us of what we owe to this great wartime generation.”
“It is an honour to hear this testimony, but our role is not purely passive.
“It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations remember their service and sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”
The King’s appearance at the Portsmouth event was his first public address and his most visible appearance since his cancer diagnosis.
As Charles spoke, a strong wind blew on the stage, causing his speech notes to fly around in his hands.
After the event, he met with 21 veterans, one of whom joked with him, revealing that he had been in the same boat as the King’s father, the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Keith Whiting, 98, who served in the Royal Marines, said: I was on board the HMS Ramirez when Prince Philip was there and we spoke about a lot of things.”
“The turnout was great.”
Another veteran, 98-year-old Roy Hayward, who landed at Gold Beach as a reserve tank crewman, met the King after appearing onstage during the show.
After meeting members of the royal family, he said:
‘They asked me how I got on and how I had my legs blown off.’
At the Portsmouth commemorations, William read an extract from the diary of Captain Alastair Bannerman of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, a soldier who was part of D-Day, addressed to his wife on the morning of the landings.
He told the flag-waving crowd he was ‘deeply honoured’ to be part of proceedings on Southsea Common and said ‘we will always remember those who served’.
William wore medals during his address, including the Great Master of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath around his neck, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and a coronation medal.
The Prime Minister also wrote a piece for the programme, in which he said ‘we must never forget how much we owe’ those who took part in D-Day.
At the event, Rishi Sunak read an address by Field Marshal Montgomery, which was delivered to the troops ahead of the D-Day landings.
Dame Helen Mirren officially opened the event at about 11am, praising the bravery of the veterans in attendance.
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Children waved miniature Union flags as actor Phil Dunster appeared onstage in a 1940s-style military uniform and read a letter written by Major Rodney Maude of the Royal Engineers 48 hours before D-Day was written.
Phone The Midwife star Helen George led an ensemble of singers in a rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s “I’ll See You Again” at the National Remembrance Day.
Veterans were seen singing along to the lyrics while audience members waved Union Jacks.
The 1939 song is intimately associated with World War II and was the basis for the 1943 musical of the same name, set in blitzed London.
Some veterans will take part in two days of commemorative events in Portsmouth to mark this historic milestone.
The Normandy landings were the largest maritime invasion in history, and the 1944 battles laid the foundations for Allied victory.
On June 6, 1944, British, American, Canadian and French troops attacked German forces on the beaches of Normandy in northern France.
As Allied forces left Portsmouth on June 5, the British and French governments will hold commemorative events in both ports to mark the D-Day landings.