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D-Day: May and Macron in France to mark 75th anniversary | D-Day: May and Macron in France to mark 75th anniversary |
(about 1 hour later) | |
PM Theresa May will join Emmanuel Macron in northern France for a second day of events marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. | PM Theresa May will join Emmanuel Macron in northern France for a second day of events marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. |
Mrs May and the French president will attend an inauguration ceremony for a memorial to honour the British troops who died in the Battle of Normandy. | Mrs May and the French president will attend an inauguration ceremony for a memorial to honour the British troops who died in the Battle of Normandy. |
The prime minister will then attend a cathedral service in Bayeux, alongside veterans and the Prince of Wales. | The prime minister will then attend a cathedral service in Bayeux, alongside veterans and the Prince of Wales. |
D-Day was the start of the liberation of Nazi-occupied western Europe. | D-Day was the start of the liberation of Nazi-occupied western Europe. |
Hundreds of veterans have gathered in Normandy for the anniversary of the largest combined land, air and naval operation in history. | Hundreds of veterans have gathered in Normandy for the anniversary of the largest combined land, air and naval operation in history. |
The day's commemorations will mark key events in the operation, which started on 6 June 1944. | The day's commemorations will mark key events in the operation, which started on 6 June 1944. |
Overnight, serving British soldiers marched across the first bridge captured on French soil - 75 years to the minute when the key strategic target was taken from the Nazis. | |
In 1944 it took troops less than 15 minutes to seize Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, clearing the way for the Allies to storm the beaches hours later. | In 1944 it took troops less than 15 minutes to seize Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, clearing the way for the Allies to storm the beaches hours later. |
At 06:26 BST - the exact minute the first British troops landed on the beaches in 1944 - a lone piper will play on a section of the Mulberry Harbour in the town of Arromanches. | At 06:26 BST - the exact minute the first British troops landed on the beaches in 1944 - a lone piper will play on a section of the Mulberry Harbour in the town of Arromanches. |
Mr Macron and Mrs May - in one of her final engagements as Conservative leader - will be in Ver-sur-Mer to see the first stone laid for a memorial to commemorate the 20,000 British troops who died there in the summer of 1944. | Mr Macron and Mrs May - in one of her final engagements as Conservative leader - will be in Ver-sur-Mer to see the first stone laid for a memorial to commemorate the 20,000 British troops who died there in the summer of 1944. |
The British Normandy Memorial is being built on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach - one of the key sites for British troops during the D-Day landings. | The British Normandy Memorial is being built on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach - one of the key sites for British troops during the D-Day landings. |
Once completed, it will record the names of the 22,442 members of the British armed forces who died. | Once completed, it will record the names of the 22,442 members of the British armed forces who died. |
Mrs May will then join the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for a service in Bayeux - the first city in France to be liberated by the invasion. | Mrs May will then join the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for a service in Bayeux - the first city in France to be liberated by the invasion. |
That will be followed by a service at Bayeux War Cemetery, where many of the fallen were buried. | That will be followed by a service at Bayeux War Cemetery, where many of the fallen were buried. |
Meanwhile, Mr Macron will accompany US President Donald Trump at an event at the US war cemetery at Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-Mer. | Meanwhile, Mr Macron will accompany US President Donald Trump at an event at the US war cemetery at Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-Mer. |
Other events taking place include: | Other events taking place include: |
Wednesday saw the first day of the 75th anniversary events, with leaders from every country that fought alongside the UK on D-Day joining the Queen in Portsmouth. | Wednesday saw the first day of the 75th anniversary events, with leaders from every country that fought alongside the UK on D-Day joining the Queen in Portsmouth. |
Veterans of the landings were also in attendance as the Queen paid tribute to the "heroism, courage and sacrifice" of those who died. | Veterans of the landings were also in attendance as the Queen paid tribute to the "heroism, courage and sacrifice" of those who died. |
Mr Trump - who was on the last day of his three-day UK state visit - said D-Day "may have been the greatest battle ever". | Mr Trump - who was on the last day of his three-day UK state visit - said D-Day "may have been the greatest battle ever". |
Around 300 veterans were then waved off on the cruise ship MV Boudicca as it set off for the Normandy commemorations. | Around 300 veterans were then waved off on the cruise ship MV Boudicca as it set off for the Normandy commemorations. |
But two veterans - Harry Read, 95, and John Hutton, 94, - parachuted back into Normandy, 75 years after their first landing. | But two veterans - Harry Read, 95, and John Hutton, 94, - parachuted back into Normandy, 75 years after their first landing. |
This time, they jumped in tandem with members of the Army's Parachute Regiment display team, the Red Devils - and were greeted by cheers. | This time, they jumped in tandem with members of the Army's Parachute Regiment display team, the Red Devils - and were greeted by cheers. |