News
HRH pays his respects to veterans of the D-Day landings
2nd June 2004
The Prince of Wales paid his respects to 650 veterans of the D-Day landings who marched in a parade held as part of commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
A crowd of more than 5,000 people turned out to cheer on the veterans, who were headed by 20 regimental standard bearers, at Castle Field, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants.
As well as taking the salute from the march-past by the veterans, who travelled from across the country to today's events, The Prince, accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester, inspected the guard from the Royal Navy training base HMS Collingwood.
The parade was completed by the Band of the Royal Marines who played a beat retreat before the standard was lowered by a group of veterans.
After the parade, The Prince, wearing the Navy uniform of his rank of Vice-Admiral, toured Portsmouth's D-Day museum where he viewed embroidery portraying the story of Operation Overlord, the code-name for the D-Day operation.
The Prince had the chance to meet many of the ex-servicemen at a marquee reception held not only for British veterans but also for veterans from America, Canada, Australia and France, including members of the French resistance.
Frank Rosier, secretary of the Portsmouth branch of the Normandy Veteran Association, was one of those who landed on Gold beach on June 6, 1944, as a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment.
The 78-year-old from Cowplain, Hants, who received the Legion D'Honneur for his part in the invasion and the war, said: “What has so pleased us in recent days is the interest of the young people.
“It has been overwhelming. One young lad said to us the other day that he was so pleased to speak to us because in a few years he would only be able to read about us in books.”