Speaking on Wednesday afternoon in Portsmouth at an event attended by international leaders and veterans, the Queen rose to address the giant crowd, some of whom were weeping. During her speech, the monarch said “thank you” to all those who offered up “heroism, courage and sacrifice” to storm the beaches of Normandy in June 1944. She said: “When I attended the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, some thought it might be the last such event.

“But the wartime generation – my generation – is resilient, and I am delighted to be with you in Portsmouth today.

“Seventy-five years ago, hundreds of thousands of young soldiers, sailors and airmen left these shores in the cause of freedom.

“In a broadcast to the nation at that time, my Father, King George VI, said: ‘…what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve…’

“That is exactly what those brave men brought to the battle, as the fate of the world depended on their success.

“Many of them would never return, and the heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten.

“It is with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country – indeed the whole free world – that I say to you all, thank you.”

Prime Minister Theresa May also appeared at the event and read a letter from Captain Norman Skinner of the Royal Army Service Corps, to his wife Gladys on June 3, 1944.

The letter was in his pocket when he landed on Normandy’s Sword Beach on D-Day but he was killed the following day, leaving his wife and two young daughters.

Reading the letter Mrs May said: “My darling this is a very difficult letter for me to write. As you know something may happen at any moment and I cannot tell when you will receive this.

“I had hoped to be able to see you during last weekend but it was impossible to get away and all the things I intended to say must be written. I’m sure that anyone with imagination must dislike the thought of what’s coming, but my fears will be more of being afraid than of what can happen to me.

“You and I have had some lovely years which now seemed to have passed at lightning speed. My thoughts at this moment, in this lovely Saturday afternoon, are with you all now.”

The pair were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump, who also paid their respects with a reading.

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