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| D-day veterans and world leaders arrive in Portsmouth to vast security | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| D-day veterans and world leaders have arrived in Portsmouth to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings amid a vast security operation to safeguard dignitaries including the Queen, Donald Trump and Theresa May. | |
| Miles of fencing, roadblocks and checkpoints have been set up and residents have been told not to aim long-lens cameras at the national commemoration event on Southsea Common from nearby flats or fly drones over the common. Protests against the US president are expected to take place both a mile away in the city centre and around the perimeter fence. | Miles of fencing, roadblocks and checkpoints have been set up and residents have been told not to aim long-lens cameras at the national commemoration event on Southsea Common from nearby flats or fly drones over the common. Protests against the US president are expected to take place both a mile away in the city centre and around the perimeter fence. |
| But veterans, their families and politicians are calling for the focus of the event, which will include emotional testimonials from survivors, to be on those who fought and fell rather than on the Trump circus. For many, it is likely to be the last major anniversary they will attend. | |
| Some Portsmouth residents feel excluded from the commemoration because of the ring of steel and the scale of the event, which is being run by the Ministry of Defence, but thousands are expected to watch from big screens set up outside the cordon. | Some Portsmouth residents feel excluded from the commemoration because of the ring of steel and the scale of the event, which is being run by the Ministry of Defence, but thousands are expected to watch from big screens set up outside the cordon. |
| Calls for D-day event to focus on veterans rather than Trump | Calls for D-day event to focus on veterans rather than Trump |
| Ahead of the event, the 16 nations involved in the commemoration agreed a proclamation to mark the 75th anniversary. The statement, coordinated by the UK, recognises the sacrifice of those who took part in the second world war and salutes the surviving D-day veterans. | |
| In the proclamation, countries undertake to work together to find common ground and recommit to the shared values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. | In the proclamation, countries undertake to work together to find common ground and recommit to the shared values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. |
| It says: “Seventy-five years ago, our countries were about to embark on a decisive battle. On 6 June 1944, 160,000 allied troops landed at Normandy, signalling the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. Casualty figures on all sides were immense, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, aviators and civilians killed or wounded in the days and weeks that followed. | It says: “Seventy-five years ago, our countries were about to embark on a decisive battle. On 6 June 1944, 160,000 allied troops landed at Normandy, signalling the beginning of the end of the war in Europe. Casualty figures on all sides were immense, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, sailors, aviators and civilians killed or wounded in the days and weeks that followed. |
| “We stand together today to honour the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on D-day, and those many millions of men and women who lost their lives during the second world war, the largest conflict in human history. | |
| “Over the last 75 years, our nations have stood up for peace in Europe and globally, for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. We re-commit today to those shared values because they support the stability and prosperity of our nations and our people.” | “Over the last 75 years, our nations have stood up for peace in Europe and globally, for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. We re-commit today to those shared values because they support the stability and prosperity of our nations and our people.” |
| The text has been agreed by the 16 countries attending the Portsmouth commemorations: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the UK and the US. | |
| Penny Mordaunt, the UK defence secretary, said: “It is our chance, perhaps our last chance, to say thank you to these amazing individuals. The courage that they showed, the immense scale of that is breathtaking and we should pause today to remember that and all those who are not here today.” | |
| The prime minister is to call for unity in western Europe, adding: “The global challenges we face today are different in their origin and nature. But as we confront new and evolving threats to our security it is more important than ever that we continue to stand together in upholding our shared values and way of life.” | The prime minister is to call for unity in western Europe, adding: “The global challenges we face today are different in their origin and nature. But as we confront new and evolving threats to our security it is more important than ever that we continue to stand together in upholding our shared values and way of life.” |
| After a reception with veterans, world leaders will meet to discuss the western alliance and security. | After a reception with veterans, world leaders will meet to discuss the western alliance and security. |
| The public event will include testimony from veterans, theatrical performances, live music as well as a flypast of the Red Arrows and Spitfires. | The public event will include testimony from veterans, theatrical performances, live music as well as a flypast of the Red Arrows and Spitfires. |
| Later, from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, May will wave off the hundreds of veterans who are to retrace the journey they made across the channel 75 years ago, this time aboard a cruise ship, the MV Boudicca, | |
| Ernie Nelson, a 95-year-old veteran from Cheshire, said it was “first class” to be back in Portsmouth for the 75th anniversary. Nelson was a wireless telegraphist on HMS Scourge, which escorted convoys to Sword beach and provided fire support to troops when they landed. | Ernie Nelson, a 95-year-old veteran from Cheshire, said it was “first class” to be back in Portsmouth for the 75th anniversary. Nelson was a wireless telegraphist on HMS Scourge, which escorted convoys to Sword beach and provided fire support to troops when they landed. |
| “A lot of memories come back to me, that’s the trouble,” he said. “I get flashbacks, I remember the people I was with at that time.” | |
| His daughter, Susan Conneely, said she hoped the focus would be on the survivors and the fallen: “It’s all about remembrance, it’s not about politics.” | |
| Letitia Abbott, a US citizen, was in Portsmouth to remember her father, Jack, who landed at Omaha beach on D-day. “He was deeply affected,” she said. “He would talk about it but he couldn’t do some things, such as go to the movies, for years after. It was just too much for him. I’m here because I loved my father and I wanted my son [also Jack] to come here and understand it all.” | Letitia Abbott, a US citizen, was in Portsmouth to remember her father, Jack, who landed at Omaha beach on D-day. “He was deeply affected,” she said. “He would talk about it but he couldn’t do some things, such as go to the movies, for years after. It was just too much for him. I’m here because I loved my father and I wanted my son [also Jack] to come here and understand it all.” |
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