it looks absolutely wonderful, so clear and so blue and it's so attractive. i don't suppose it looked like that then, really. one was very worried about it and expecting ghastly things to happen. these are what i am supposed to have made. these are the maps you made. amazing. we also showed her an original invasion map. again, something she'd never seen before. this will have saved lives. i hope so. there will have been so many lives lost. but perhaps one or two saved. i'm sure more than that. and you think of how young they all were too. and also brave, so desperately keen to win. her role would have been vital,

so today she'll be presented with france's highest honour, the legion d'honneur. i'm just amazed, really. i'm not expecting that sort of thing. president macron will give christian her medal here in ver—sur—mer, so she says she's brushing up on her french. i spent the morning trying to go through my french dictionary to find some really polite things to say in french, because i used to be absolutely bilingual when i was young and i lived in france for a whole year, and now i've forgotten it all. but as we witnessed at a school here in northern france last month, christian is being far too modest about her linguistic skills. she speaks french. i feel wonderful. thrilled by it all. yesterday she was flown from portsmouth with pat owtram, also a recipient of the medal... i like yours very much. yes.

i've always been ratherjealous of it. ..wishing her bon voyage. have a good trip. thank you very much. very exciting. with the distinctive red ribbon and white cross, the people of france are bestowing their highest honour on someone who for many years kept silent about their top secret work but today, at long last, will receive the recognition she deserves. let's bring you one version of this latest live feed coming into us, president biden and president emmanuel macron together with their wives walking along the blue carpet towards the us memorial. let's have a listen.

applause band plays president biden is due to make a speech to address those who have gathered here today. earlier on, we heard from president emmanuel macron, he spoke about earlier in english about when he thanked those who sacrificed themselves from the us, from the uk on the beaches of normandy 80 years ago. he was earlier on with king charles and queen camilla, he has now moved to be with president biden and his wife. in a moment, we are going to be hearing from president biden. let's have a listen.

speaks french french national anthem

the star-spangled banner plays

applause distinguished guests, please remain standing. let as bow our heads in humble

reference and solemn remembrance. let us pray. god, when you need is someone to defend freedom you made a soldier, when you needed someone to fight tyranny, you created at marine. when you needed someone to protect the skies, when you needed someone to guard the seas, you made the sailor, and to patrol the shores, the coastguard. when you needed to send someone brief and true that has always been and always will be the men and women of the armed forces. when the world needed heroes, you called the greatest generation courage and their answer still echoes in the soul of the nation. shine a light upon those whose gravestones encircle us as

silent sentinels reminding us of the price of liberty. comfort with your abiding presence those who mourn empty tables and empty chairs, of those who gave their best hopes for a brighter tomorrows. those who gave their best hopes for a brightertomorrows. br those who gave their best hopes for a brighter tomorrows. br witness, oh, god, as we stand on this hallowed ground consecrated in blood that we will be devoted to the preservation of peace with the same determination as these here who fought fourscore years ago as storm clouds gather on the horizon once again, rise up? oh, god, the next greatest generation to meet every challenge with an unbreakable resource to do what is right and good. not counting the cost, but weighing the unfinished work of

freedom. of vision where all people can pursue the life to which you have created them, may it be so, i pray in your holy name, amen, and anne main. amen. thank you. president and first lady biden, president and lady emmanuel macron, welcome to the commission normandy american cemetery. d—day is the hinge of history. it is here we

reflect the very best of america's values. america sends its young, its grief, its finest, we do not send them to fight for a king or a crown. we do not fight for a sect or a denomination, we do not fight for a motherland or a fatherland, no, and we never ever fight for conquest or plunder or enslavement of another people. when america is at its base, america sends its young, its finest to fight for simple, humble values. . the values of freedom, liberty and democracy. and when the job . the values of freedom, liberty and democracy. and when thejob is done, when the mission is accomplished, when the mission is accomplished, when the mission is accomplished, when the tyrant is taken down and

democracy is stood up, america does something unique in the history of mankind. we go home. all that america asked for in return for the sacrifice of our young, our finest, are a few small plots of land to bury our dead. all of you are seated here in one of those small plots of land. that is why this date, during the six, this place, normandy, and the six, this place, normandy, and the ceremony here is so important. it is a reminder to all of us of the true cost of war. and the real price of freedom. it is a price that we paid on d—day, 80 years ago. it is a price that we remind all

authoritarian dictators today if necessary, we will pay that price again to ensure the success of freedom. and that is ultimately why france knows, the united states knows, and we know that the world's most powerful weapon system is not manned by mercenaries, the aircraft carrier patrolling artificial islands, a suicide terrorist killing and slaughtering innocents, no, the world's most powerful weapon system was, is and shall forever be, free

people, willing to fight for freedom. ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here, thank you for remembering here, thank you for renewing yourfaith in remembering here, thank you for renewing your faith in freedom. may god bless each and every one of you, france and the united states of america. applause distinguished case, the president of the french republic, emmanuel macron.

he speaks french studio: as you can hear, president macron is speaking in french to the crowd. i can imagine he is commemorating those american soldiers to whom this ceremony is targeted. if he does start speaking

in english, we will go back. but i want to come if we may come across live to our europe editor, not far from where president macron is now. we will leave you out of vision as we speak to you, because we will stick to these pictures are president macron, but can i ask about the international response? it's very important to uk viewers, this is about us soldiers, canadian soldiers and many across europe have come to commemorate and remember. absolutely. it is 80 years since those d—day landings which were pivotal in pushing back nazi germany. and it is a time for solemn remembrance and the kind words we are hearing, because at the same time president macron is speaking there at the american ceremony, we

have had the british ceremony today as well, the canadian ceremony, and where i am just outside an international ceremony in about an hour's time, all the talk is about freedom and democracy and international togetherness. at the same time, of course, there is a war raging in europe at the scale not seen since 1945, russia's invasion of ukraine. at the international ceremony will see a conspicuous absence, russia was pivotal in defeating germany but vladimir putin has not been invited today. the president of ukraine has. while talking thoughts about wars ended yesteryear, there is one raging right now with consent of further instability across this continent. —— concerns are. instability across this continent. -- concerns are.— -- concerns are. and it is interesting _ -- concerns are. and it is interesting how _ -- concerns are. and it isj interesting how president

-- concerns are. and it is - interesting how president macron -- concerns are. and it is _ interesting how president macron has been front and centre of what has happened here and has been very warm in his words both now to president biden and joe biden but also to king charles and queen camilla. it is very important _ charles and queen camilla. it is very important for— charles and queen camilla. it 3 very important for western allies gathering here, we will see 25 heads of state and government and members of state and government and members of the european royalfamily, including the prince of wales gathering abbey international commemoration in a bit. it's important for them to show signs of western cohesion and it's a direct message to russia. because we are talking about the allies, the allies who landed here on the beaches and help turn the tide in the second world war. but even amongst the allies who stand behind ukraine, there are divisions. there are strains about how many weapons are delivered, how fast to ukraine, how ukraine may or may not use them.

there are stresses and strains between joe there are stresses and strains betweenjoe biden and some of his allies over the stance he has taken over the war in gaza at the moment. todayis over the war in gaza at the moment. today is a chance not only choose your respect to those veterans who have made it here today and those who lost their lives 80 years ago, that also include civilians, 20,000 civilians lost their lives in the battle of normandy, but it is also a time of unity and a show of unity amongst these allies with the problems they are facing in the world today. problems they are facing in the world today-— problems they are facing in the world toda . , ~.,. ., , world today. president macron still talkin: in world today. president macron still talking in french, _ world today. president macron still talking in french, so _ world today. president macron still talking in french, so we _ world today. president macron still talking in french, so we will - world today. president macron still talking in french, so we will try - world today. president macron still talking in french, so we will try to | talking in french, so we will try to stay off that for now until he starts talking in english. tell me about the veterans who have been coming here and those who brought themselves to normandy to remember their comrades and their own

sacrifices. their comrades and their own sacrifices-_ their comrades and their own sacrifices-— their comrades and their own sacrifices. ., ., . �* , , , sacrifices. from france's side, but last 0-day — sacrifices. from france's side, but last d-day veteran _ sacrifices. from france's side, but last d-day veteran sadly - sacrifices. from france's side, but last d-day veteran sadly passed . sacrifices. from france's side, but. last d-day veteran sadly passed away last d—day veteran sadly passed away not that long ago. we have veterans from the united states and canada, kingdom who have come here as well. it is very emotional. there are visitors here from around europe and also for the locals of normandy. i have been here all weekend every village dotted along the coastline is alive with flags on every street corner, british, canadianflags, american flags. just real expressions of gratitude and tears when people talk to the elections, saying thank you, thank you for bringing us ourfreedom and liberty. of course, when you talk to veterans here, they remember, it is incredible how clear they remember that day. i was speaking to a

99—year—old veteran from the united states and he said he remembers how cold it was, how seasick he was when he landed in normandy and just how nervous he was about the enormity of the task before him. but he said he was happy that he could help and be here today. and i will pass back to you now because i believe emmanuel macron might be about to speak in english. macron might be about to speak in enalish. . ~ macron might be about to speak in enalish. ., ~ i. he speaks in french studio: he is talking about these men of a different generation and what they have done for the freedom of the world. for you who are here,

your comrades who are no longer here, for your bravery and service, here, for your bravery and service, he is going to give the legion of honour to those who have shown their bravery on those beaches in d—day. the applause coming after that from president macron. he the applause coming after that from president macron.— president macron. he will now resent president macron. he will now present the — president macron. he will now present the national— president macron. he will now present the national order... | present the national order... president _ present the national order... president macron paying tribute to the bravery of those fallen soldiers and those who he said are here today, i will reflect your bravery with the legion of honour, and he earlier gave to the british world war i female wren christian lamb,

who my colleague spoke to earlier. but here he is presenting the legion of honour to those us veterans sat there. some of them are covered in blue blankets, because even though it is a relatively sunny and baystate, it must be difficult to sit in one place for a long time. —— and dry day. as i spoke earlier to my colleague, he said it's a tradition of the french to give the legion of honour to those veterans who fought in normandy and as my colleague also said, those elections from france, unfortunately, sadly, are no longer with us. the last french veteran sadly passed away. those who are left, those who survived, dropped through the war and who lived the 80 years to today. let's have a listen to what is

happening. he speaks french applause gilbert abel, a veteran is receiving the legion of honour.

he speaks french let's give you some background into what the national order of the legion of honour is. this is the highest french order of merit. both military and civil. it was established in 1802 by napoleon bonaparte and it has been retained since then by all subsequent french governments and regimes. the motto of the legion of honour is, honour

and fatherland. napoleon originally created this award to ensure political loyalty and was not about bravery when it first came about but that has changed very much in recent years. he speaks french you can see there president macron pinning the legion d'honnuer medal. these actions have been waiting some time for this. —— please veterans have been waiting some time for this. everyone knows about this

honour, one of the most famous in the world. it does not include any financial or material benefit, however, it does include an awful lot of pride for those who receive it. the legion of honour has 79,000 members, and on average around 2000 french and 300 foreigners are decorated with it each year. i don't know if we can see... we don't need to take i don't know if we can see... we don't need to take the i don't know if we can see... we don't need to take the strap i don't know if we can see... we don't need to take the strap down. sorry. we can see the colour of the badge there. it is a red ribbon. the

badge there. it is a red ribbon. the badge is a... and there is an effigy of the republic and on the reverse, two tricolour flag surrounded by the motto, which i mentioned earlier, honour and fatherland. as you can see, president macron is pinning the legion of honour on the left—hand side, that is where it belongs and is worn. he speaks french in more recent times, the legion of honour has changed and adapted to society. it now recognises more and

more the role of people who work in nonprofit organisations and charities, lifetime achievements, it recognises the place of women. it has changed a lot since those days of napoleon. there is president biden exchanging a few more words. applause since the inception of the order nearly a million citizens have received the honour, there are currently 79,000 members.

everyone of these american veterans has been named. applause long and deep round of applause there. a few words being exchanged between president biden and the veterans, who he has actually met already earlier today, and presented them with a commemorative coin. to give you a few names of some famous british people who have

received this legion of honour, not taking away anything from these wonderful veterans currently having theirs presented to them, but interestingly sean connery, the scottish actor, was presented with one. sir eltonjohn also has one. sir paul mccartney, field marshal bernard law montgomery, they also have one. vice admiral sir victor stanley, a huge number of british recipients. a lot of these affections have come with their families, a lot of these affections have come with theirfamilies, it's

a lot of these affections have come with their families, it's a long and difficultjourney for many, it —— they are to put it mildly very old. applause there was one us navy veteran who did not make get. it's sad story. something we brought you earlier,

venturing from rochester, new york, he died en route to the ceremonial. he suffered a medical emergency on a ship heading to europe and died the next day. he was 102 years old. he was so close to making it to the celebrations. applause he was one veteran who did not make it today. but here we are watching those who did, those who are being presented with the legion of honour. it's presented by president biden and president macron.

applause do you see that in the background? that is tom hanks with the sunglasses on the far right. he was the start of saving private ryan, which had those stating first 20 minutes depicting the d—day arrivals of american soldiers on omaha beach. it was directed by steven spielberg, who i believe is also in the crowd.

applause the legion of honour, as i mentioned

earlier, the highest honour that can be bestowed upon someone in france. it's the highest french order of merit, both military and civilian. distinguished guests, please welcome lloyd j _ distinguished guests, please welcome llode austin the third, secretary of defence of the united states of america — america. applause president biden, doctor biden, president biden, doctor biden, president macron, mrs macron,

distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and above all, veterans of world ii mac —— of world war ii. iam of world ii mac —— of world war ii. i am honoured to stand again at this hallowed place. we bow our heads to remember the more than 9000 us and allied soldiers killed or wounded on d—day by hitler's forces. in behalf of the united states department of defence, i am of the united states department of defence, iam here of the united states department of defence, i am here to give thanks, inadequate as that word may be. 80 years later, we thank the young americans who took the beaches, who helped liberate france and who helped liberate france and who helped free this continent from nazi tyranny. we thank every allied warrior who fought for freedom on

june six, 1944. and we thank the american and allied factions who have rallied once more on the shores of normandy. victors of d—day, we are humbled by your presence. young americans who thought through plan and chaos on d—day have grown old old left us. and whenever a of d—day is gathered to his maker, in the fullness of time, after a long life lived in freedom, he wins a final victory over hitler. you helped defeat what churchill called a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. andy laid the

foundation for a morejust, free, and decent world. together with our allies, we built piece out of war, a hard—headed piece, a piece renewed by constant commitment, forged by the generation that won the bloodiest war in human history. and so our gratitude must never fade. our memories must never dim. and our resolve must neverfail. our memories must never dim. and our resolve must never fail. we still seek a world where aggression is a sin, where human rights are sacred and where all people can live in freedom. and so we must rally again to defend the open post—war world of

rules, rights and responsibilities. those rules protect us. those rights define us. and those responsibilities summon us once more. at this time in history, we must again stand firm against aggression and tyranny. and as i said here last year, if the troops of the world's democracies could risk their lives for freedom then, surely the citizens of the world's democracy cannot risk our comfort for freedom democracy cannot risk our comfort forfreedom now. —— can risk our comfort. select again uphold the spirit of d—day, let us again defend

the principles that the allied armies carry. let us again thank the heroes of d—day who kept freedom alive for us all. you saved the world. applause you saved the world and we must only defend it. , , ., defend it. gentlemen, we salute you. applause may god bless the american and allied troops who fought here, may god bless the united states of america, and may god bless all who

cherish human freedom. thank you. applause clock ticks papa, what was it like on d—day? studio: i think they are playing a video now on the screens on the side, i am video now on the screens on the side, iam not video now on the screens on the side, i am not sure we can see that. there is another shot their off president macron and president biden. —— shot of president macron.

this is a video playing accounts of the veterans. we had there from the defence secretary lloyd austin, who was paying tribute and commemorating those who lost their lives, their bravery. he talked about the sacrifices made during that walk many years ago and about the discomfort people now in the present time are suffering because of war. he made some comparisons between those times and what is happening now. earlier on there was a military fly—past apparently when president biden arrived that dw —— formatted d—day memorial on omaha beach. you can see the red ribbons on the left—hand side of these veterans' jackets, these are the legion

d'honnuer, presented by president macron to american soldiers. he talked about the risk the soldiers took for freedom and went on to address each of the veterans in attendance by name. he said, here you came tojoin attendance by name. he said, here you came to join your thoughts with our soldiers and make france a free nation and you are back here today at home. the french president went on to speak about their service to freedom before presenting france's legion d'honnuer to veterans, which is france's highest distinction. so as we wait for president biden to address the commemoration, i want to tell you a few facts about what d—day actually is and why this is so important and why it has been

commemorated in this way. on the 6th ofjune 1944 troops from the uk, canada, france and the us attacked german forces on the coast of northern france, where you see the ceremony happening. it was the largest military seaborne operation ever attempted and mark the binning —— marked the beginning of the campaign to liberate nazi occupied north west europe. it involved the simultaneous landing of tens of thousands of troops on five separate beaches on normandy. we saw canadian troops landing onjuno beach and us troops landing onjuno beach and us troops landing onjuno beach and us troops landing just behind where the stage is here on omaha beach. many soldiers lost their lives that day, many are buried in cemeteries around

normandy. but for those who survived, commemorating what happened today 80 years on is an important event, something about these men and women have travelled many miles to be able to do. the us president and his wife arrived earlier on air force one. they greeted veterans individually later, presenting them with a commemorative coin. before making their way to meet president emmanuel macron, the flyby, and then here to the commemoration event. it's a cross—party event, there are members of both parties, democrats and republicans. at this event today. representing both sides of the

house.