D-Day: World leaders and veterans mark 80th anniversary

World leaders and veterans have gathered in Normandy, France, to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6th, 1944. On that day, over 150,000 allied troops launched an attack on German forces, which changed the course of the Second World War.

Yesterday, a candlelit vigil was held to honor fallen troops at Bayeux War Cemetery. Today, there will be a series of events attended by world leaders, including France's President Macron, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Schultz, US President Joe Biden, and Britain's King Charles.

More than 6,000 vessels and 11,000 planes supported the Allied troops who landed on beaches along an 80 km stretch of the Normandy coastline.

Veterans who were there 80 years ago will be the guests of honor, including around 200 from America, Britain, and Canada. Throughout the day, there will be live coverage of the key commemorations.

Sophie Long, reporting on the emotional service held last night, reminds us that the heroes who fought in the largest naval, air, and land operation the world has ever witnessed gave their lives to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe.

They made one collective aim to liberate occupied Europe, but they were individuals, sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers, who made the ultimate sacrifice. In tonight's service, we honor the fallen troops and we will never forget them.

Hugh Scoffield, reporting live from Normandy, shares how the troops of today, including older and younger men and women, carry on a tradition of passing on the memory of that momentous day to future generations of marines by doing what the men of 1944 did and by marching 14 miles inland on the Normandy countryside to the port of Porto.

Throughout the day, we will have live coverage of the key moments of the 80th commemoration of D-Day. You can also watch videos from the memories of some of the veterans who were there in 1944 on BBC News.