Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla were not the only members of a Royal Household to travel to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the military operation known as the Normandy Landings.
This commemoration, which originally occurred on June 6, 1944, brought representatives from some of Europe’s most illustrious royal houses to the French region to pay tribute to the thousands of brave soldiers who lost their lives in the battle that defined the course of World War II.
We will remember them.#DDay80 pic.twitter.com/zyJvGbXVl5
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 6, 2024
The commemoration included multiple events, highlighted by the main ceremony held on Omaha Beach on Thursday afternoon.
The event was presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, who welcomed guests, who included dignitaries from royal houses across Europe, including Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Monaco, the United Kingdom and Denmark.
D-Day 80th anniversary ceremony
At a reception filled with applause, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands made a triumphant entrance.
Queen Máxima, in her elegant navy blue dress and matching headdress, radiated charisma, once again showing her ability to shine at high-profile international events.
During the event, the monarchs were seen chatting with Prince William, who attended alone due to the absence of his wife Kate Middleton, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
The afternoon ceremony was also attended by the King and Queen of Belgium, Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who joined the celebration.
Queen Mathilde opted for a vibrant coat over a white dress, adding to the choice of many guests who preferred this symbolic color of peace.
From the Scandinavian monarchies, the King of Denmark and Prince Haakon of Norway arrived, both grabbing the public’s attention and attending without their consorts.
A meeting with the Macrons provided Prince Haakon with an unforgettable moment when the French president expressed his wife’s admiration for Queen Sonia, renowned for both her institutional role and her passion for art and painting.
The ceremony in Omaha also saw the participation of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Prince Albert of Monaco.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden did not miss the event. However, the behavior of the U.S. president captured general curiosity, especially when he was discreetly escorted out of the event by his wife during a salute to the veterans, a gesture that generated diverse interpretations among the attendees.
It is, frankly, cruel to put Biden through another election campaign and potentially four more years of the presidency. pic.twitter.com/znjIj7OKr2
— Paul Embery (@PaulEmbery) June 6, 2024