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First Minister Vaughan Gething is in Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Mr Gething attended the national commemoration at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France, on Thursday June 6 – despite losing a vote of no confidence in the Senedd on Wednesday.

The event was attended by D-Day veterans and around 2,000 guests, including King Charles III, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.

Following the event, Mr Gething will head to the town of Asnelles to pay his respects at the memorial to the South Wales Borderers (SWB), the only Welsh unit to land on D-Day.

The First Minister will also take part in a commemoration alongside the Mayor of Asnelles and lay wreaths for the SWB and the Royal Welsh Regiment, which traces its roots back to the SWB.

What was D-Day?

On June 6, 1944, the D-Day operation brought together the land, air, and sea forces in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.

When the Allied troops landed on the coast of Normandy, it marked the start of a campaign to liberate Europe and defeat the Nazis.

The battle itself claimed the lives of 4,414 allied troops, with a further 5,000 wounded.

“Eternally grateful”

Speaking on D-Day, Mr Gething said: “Today we remember all who served in the Normandy campaign, a multi-national effort and a pivotal moment in securing the end of the war.

“Many families in Wales will feel a connection to today’s anniversary, through family stories passed down from one generation to the next.”

He continued: “We of course remember the many soldiers from Wales who fought in the war, including the South Wales Borderers, who heroically advanced the furthest inland of all the units who landed on the Normandy beaches on D-Day.

“I am also honoured today to meet some of the few remaining service personnel who took part in D-Day in 1944. Their sacrifice led us to the relative peace we live in today. For this we are eternally grateful.”

“Deeply honoured”

Maj Gen Chris Barry CBE, colonel of the regiment, The Royal Welsh, said: “The Royal Welsh are deeply honoured that the First Minister will lay a wreath at the 2nd Battalion, The South Wales Borderers (SWB) Memorial at Asnelles to commemorate their landing on D Day on June 6, 1944.

“The 2nd Battalion successfully achieved their military objectives after landing and made the most progress on day one of the operation to restore the territorial integrity of the Allies.

“It is only right and fitting that we honour those Welsh warriors across the regimental family that gave the ultimate sacrifice in restoring peace to Europe.”