Camilla's tears for fallen D-Day hero: King and Queen are overcome with emotion as war veteran recounts horror of losing his 'dear friend' on beaches of Normandy 80 years ago

Camilla was overcome with emotion today as a D-Day veteran recounted the horror of losing his best friend on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago. 

Tears welled up in the Queen's eyes as former Royal Navy serviceman Eric Bateman recalled his experience on Utah beach - while King Charles also appeared visibly moved. 

Mr Bateman,who served on the warship HMS Erebus,described how you could 'walk across the Channel' because there were so many boats involved in the invasion. 

And paying tribute to his fallen comrades,he said: 'So many men and women,including my dear friend Fred,joined up with me but unfortunately never made it.'

Charles and Camilla joined the Prince of Wales,leading UK politicians and veterans at a major event in Portsmouth,where the King gave his first public speech since being diagnosed with cancer. 

He told the crowd: 'The stories of courage,resilience and solidarity we have heard today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us,to inspire us and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation.'

Parachutists wearing replica WWII-era paratrooper attire check their equipment prior to their jump from a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft in Normandy today 

Rishi SunakKate MiddletonKing Charles III