King Charles III is set to travel abroad for the first time since ascending to the throne, attending the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France this Friday, according to Buckingham Palace.
The 75-year-old monarch will join a commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial on June 6, marking a significant moment in World War II history. This appearance follows a period of speculation about the King’s health after the Palace disclosed his cancer diagnosis in February, during which Charles revealed he had lost his sense of taste.
Despite health concerns, it has been confirmed that King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William will participate actively in the D-Day celebrations. They will first attend a ceremony in Portsmouth on June 5, honouring the Allied landings that played a crucial role in liberating France from Nazi occupation.
Additionally, Princess Anne will unveil a statue in Normandy honouring the Canadian forces’ significant contributions to the D-Day operations. She will also partake in a remembrance service at the Bayeux Cathedral.
On June 6, King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend a ceremony at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, which commemorates over 20,000 soldiers who served under British command and lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy. Prince William, 41, will attend a ceremony at Omaha Beach in Saint Laurent sur Mer, expected to be attended by 25 heads of state.
However, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, will not attend as she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy and recovering at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor following her own cancer diagnosis.