Lip reader reveals what Queen Camilla said to D-Day veteran in touching exchange on 80th anniversary of event
All eyes were on King Charles and Queen Camilla today as they came to support veterans on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The royal couple joined forces with the Prince of Wales and led British politicians and veterans at a major event in Ver-sur-Mer to pay their respects and mark the somber event.
And speaking to FEMAIL, a lip reader captured the moving interactions between the royals and veterans at today’s commemoration event.
According to Jeremy Freeman, Camilla was involved in a moving conversation where a veteran told Her Majesty: ‘I’m alive, that’s all that matters’.
In a moving response, Camilla, 76, said: ‘Oh, it does matter, as long as… it’s humanly possible.’
Queen Camilla shared a moving conversation with a veteran at today’s D-Day commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer
Elsewhere at today’s event, Camilla appeared delighted as she received a white rose from veteran Gilbert Clarke.
According to Jeremy, when Gilbert presented the rose to the royal family, he said, “For you, really.”
A woman accompanying Gilbert asked Camilla, “Do you like it?” It is a positive flower’. Camilla replied: ‘Yes’ and added: ‘Wonderful to be here today’.
Meanwhile, Charles appeared cheerful as she chatted with veterans, including Peter Newton.
When the 75-year-old monarch sat down with Mr Newton over lunch, he was quick to share the humor.
According to Jeremy, Charles said as he pointed to the food, “Is this what you should eat?” The monarch later added: “The point is that we drink more beer.”
In a moving comment, Charles later called a veteran “admirable” after recounting a memory from his days as a soldier.
The veteran said: “One of the most important things was to land on the square.” Charles wondered, “And you did this to survive.”
When the D-Day veteran said, “Yes… I am a survivor,” Charles responded, saying, “Admirable.”
Her Majesty, 76, appeared moved after a D-Day veteran told her: ‘I’m still alive, that’s all that matters’
Camilla looked delighted as she received a white rose from veteran Gilbert Clarke at the MoD and Royal British Legion commemoration event
In Ver-sur-Mer, Charles led 2,000 dignitaries, soldiers and veterans in paying tribute to those who stormed the beaches.
Charles joined President Macron, Mr Sunak and military leaders in laying poppy wreaths at the monument as Elgar’s Nimrod was performed by a brass band in the background, while the national anthems of France and the United Kingdom were also played as the Red Arrows roared overhead.
They were also presented with white roses by French schoolchildren, while cadets waved flags, and received several standing ovations during the two-hour service, before shaking hands and exchanging words with His Majesty.
The monarch looked emotional as he listened to singer Johnny Flynn perform ‘Song with no Name’ in tribute to the fallen, while Camilla wiped her eyes as actor Martin Freeman read a moving diary entry from a survivor who noted ‘it’s because of the boys [who died] that I am here today’.
In his speech, Charles said: “Eighty years ago, on D-Day, June 6, 1944, our nation – and those close to it – faced what my grandfather, King George VI, described as the supreme test.
King Charles III appeared cheerful as he chatted with D-Day veteran Peter Newton during a lunch
Charles today called a D-Day veteran (pictured) ‘admirable’ as the former soldier spoke about his time in the role
‘How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the United Kingdom and other allied countries did not flinch when the time came to undergo that test.
“On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond and in the skies above, our forces performed their duty with a humble sense of purpose and determination – qualities so characteristic of that remarkable wartime generation.
‘Many of them never returned home, they died on the landing sites of D-Day or in the many battles that followed.
“It is with the deepest sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time.
“We remember the lesson that has been taught to us again and again over the decades: Free nations must work together to fight tyranny.”
Speaking in both French and English, he also paid his respects to the French people, who suffered under Nazi rule during World War II and fought for freedom through La Résistance.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Royal British Legion (RBL) took 255 veterans back to Normandy on a chartered ship, while this year only 23 veterans will make the journey with the charity.
A total of 50 British D-Day veterans are expected to attend events in Normandy today, and there have been emotional scenes as those feeling well enough to make the journey have gathered in northern France.
