Prince Charles Represents Queen Elizabeth at D-Day Commemoration

The Prince of Wales has attended the D-Day Commemorative service in France, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II. President Obama, President Sarkozy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, and Prime Minister Gordon Brown also attended.

As reportedly planned by President Sarkozy, the commemoration was largely a Franco-American affair, with the contributions of the British and Canadian troops downplayed.

At the official commemoration at the Normandy American cemetary near Colleville-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach), speeches were made by Presidents Sarkozy and Obama and Prime Ministers Brown and Harper, but not by the Prince, whose only official action was to lay a wreath.

Earlier, the Prince had visited Arromanches, where many of the British troops landed on D-Day, and met with the veterans at the Commonwealth Cemetary. He also attended a memorial service arranged by the Royal British Legion at Bayeux Cathedral. Some of the veterans reportedly wanted to know why the Queen was not there, but they seemed pleased that a member of the royal family had travelled to France to join them in commemorating their fallen comrades.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Anniversary, D-Day, Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, France, President Obama of the United States, President Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Brown of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Harper of Canada, The Prince of Wales, World War II.