King and Queen lead D-Day commemorations at Portsmouth service

The event at Southsea Common featured veterans reading dramatic accounts from the invasion.

The King, Queen and Prince of Wales along with the Prime Minister have led commemorations for the bravery of the D-Day soldiers at the national event for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

D-Day veterans, armed forces personnel and local schoolchildren were among the guests at the star-studded event held on Southsea Common in Portsmouth.

The King meets D-Day and Normandy veterans following the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, hosted by the Ministry of Defence on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, Hampshire (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The commemoration, which took place on a specially erected stage, was kicked off with a flypast by Dakota aircraft before host Dame Helen Mirren took to the stage to narrate a history of how D-Day unfolded and affected those who took part.

Dame Helen Mirren reacts next to D-Day veteran Roy Hayward at the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, hosted by the Ministry of Defence on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, Hampshire — Dame Helen Mirren reacts next to D-Day veteran Roy Hayward at the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Southsea Common in Portsmouth (Leon Neal/PA)

Music was also provided by the Royal Marines Drummers.

Emma Barton (centre) performs Sing As We Go during the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, hosted by the Ministry of Defence on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, Hampshire — Emma Barton performs Sing As We Go during the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Readings were also given by Jonny Weldon from The Outlaws and Kate Phillips from Peaky Blinders as well as Iain Glen from Game Of Thrones, Leonie Elliott, also from Call The Midwife, Anjli Mohindra from Bodyguard and Julian Ovenden from Downton Abbey.

Actor Iain Glen reads the testimony of Group Captain James Stagg during the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, hosted by the Ministry of Defence on Southsea Common in Portsmouth, Hampshire — Actor Iain Glen reads the testimony of Group Captain James Stagg during the UK’s national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Charles, Camilla, William and Mr Sunak went on to meet the veterans at a private reception following the event.