Prince William is set to step in for King Charles at a poignant D-Day event later today, after it was deemed "a step too far" for the monarch to attend amidst his ongoing cancer treatment.
It has been confirmed by royal insiders that Charles will be absent from the international ceremony due to medical advice as doctors continue to closely manage his schedule due to his cancer treatment.
Instead, Prince William will represent the Royal Family at the Omaha Beach event, alongside world leaders such as US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The King expressed his delight that his son William would be stepping in for him for the first time, the Mirror reports.
Despite his health issues, the monarch was adamant about attending the 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth yesterday, where he paid a heartfelt tribute to the thousands who served and lost their lives on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Earlier today, he and Queen Camilla were present at the British memorial event at Ver-Sur-Mer, Normandy, organised by the British Royal Legion.
During his speech, Charles told the audience: "It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time."
Veterans were visibly moved, wiping their eyes with tissues as Charles delivered his address at the national commemorative event.
The King is reportedly taking a weekend break to prepare for the upcoming Trooping the Colour in London next Saturday, marking his official birthday.
His participation has been modified due to ongoing treatment and recovery; he will inspect the troops from an Ascot Landau carriage alongside Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback.
A palace insider commented: "While His Majesty's doctors are very encouraged with the progress made so far, the King is continuing with his treatment programme - and thus we have to prioritise and protect his continued recovery."
They added: "On that basis, each event/ day has to be carefully calibrated - and given the King's other commitments on the day, it was advised that the international event later in the afternoon may be a step too far at this stage. He is of course delighted that the Prince of Wales will be attending to represent the nation."
In a touching moment earlier today, veterans from the D-Day landings were seen standing from their wheelchairs to greet Charles and Camilla in Normandy.
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Emotions ran high as the Queen was spotted wiping away tears while listening to the recollections of a D-Day veteran during the ceremony in Ver-sur-Mer.
In his address, the King remarked: "Eighty years ago on D-Day, the 6th of June 1944, our nation and those which stood alongside it faced what my grandfather, King George VI, described as the supreme test.
"How fortunate we were, and the entire free world, that a generation of men and women in the United Kingdom and other allied nations did not flinch when the moment came to face that test.
"On the beaches of Normandy, on the seas beyond and in the skies overhead, our armed forces carried out their duty with a humbling sense of resolve and determination qualities so characteristic of that remarkable war-time generation.
"Very many of them never came home, they lost their lives on the D-Day landing grounds or in the many battles that followed. It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all those who served at that critical time. We recall the lesson that comes to us again and again across the decades free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny."
The audience was moved by the recollections of Joe Mines, 99, from Hornchurch in east London. Camilla was seen dabbing her eye before sharing a smile with the King as Mr Mines enthusiastically waved his arms.
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During the ceremony, Charles was seated next to French President Emmanuel Macron, and the two were observed engaging in conversation.
Meanwhile, Prince William was present at the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer.
The future King was warmly welcomed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who greeted him with a handshake before they proceeded to their seats.
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