King Charles III has undertaken his first trip abroad since announcing his cancer diagnosis.
On Thursday, the King arrived in Normandy, France, with his wife, Camilla, Queen of England, to attend a Ministry of Defence and British Legion commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings during World War II.
The couple were accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron.
King Charles gives first public speech since cancer diagnosis at D-Day veterans event
King Charles and Camilla, Queen of England, visited Normandy, France to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. (Getty Images)
During his visit, the king, who announced his cancer diagnosis in February, paid tribute to the Allied soldiers who landed in France on June 6, 1944, to liberate the country from Nazi-occupied northwestern Europe.
“How fortunate for us, and for the entire free world, that generations of men and women from Britain and other Allied nations did not flinch when faced with that test,” Prince Charles said in a speech at the event. “On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond, and in the skies above, our troops performed their duty with humble resolve and resolute determination.”
King Charles shook hands with veterans during his visit. (Getty Images)
“Our gratitude is endless and our respect is eternal,” he added.
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After the speech, Prince Charles laid a wreath at the memorial.
This will be the King’s first overseas trip since undergoing cancer treatment. (Getty Images)
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were also in attendance to commemorate the 80th anniversary.
Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were also in attendance. (Getty Images)
Additionally, Prince William was accompanied by the Prime Minister of Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal attended a separate commemoration ceremony honouring Canadian soldiers at Juno Beach Centre in Currue-sur-Mer, Normandy.
Prince Charles thanked Canadian veterans for their “extraordinary acts of courage and sacrifice.”
Prince William also marked the anniversary with a similar event nearby. (Jordan Pettit-Pool/Getty Images)
“We pay tribute to all the Canadians who gave so much, to all the Canadian families who lost loved ones,” he said. “We’re thankful for our freedoms, and we thank you for your service.”
The day before, the King, along with Camilla Parker and Prince William, had arrived in Portsmouth, England to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
In a video shared on the official royal website, Prince Charles told the crowd of veterans and politicians: “The stories of courage, resilience and unity that we have heard today and throughout our lives never fail to inspire and inspire us, and remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation, now tragically dwindling in numbers.”
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He also emphasized Portsmouth’s role in the mission, saying, “The people assembled at Portsmouth would never forget the sight. It was the greatest military fleet the world had ever known. But all knew that both victory and failure were possible, and no one could know its fate.”
In February, Buckingham Palace welcomed Charles He had been diagnosed with a type of cancer. The Queen was undergoing treatment. During surgery for “benign prostatic hyperplasia” at a London clinic, “other concerns” were uncovered.
King Charles was diagnosed with cancer shortly after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. (Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images)
“Subsequent diagnostic tests revealed a form of cancer,” the palace said in a statement at the time.
In March, he attended Easter services, his first major event since announcing his cancer diagnosis, and formally returned to royal duties in May.
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The Associated Press and Elizabeth Stanton of Fox News Digital contributed to this post.
