Photos show world leaders, veterans commemorating D-Day’s 80th anniversary

Eighty years ago, the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II on what would be known as D-Day. The surprise invasion ultimately led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe and the end of the war itself just over a year later.

Heads of state from around the world have traveled to France over the past few days to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the landing.

U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s King Charles III and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a U.S. ceremony at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, on Thursday, along with other notable figures such as “Saving Private Ryan” star Tom Hanks and director Steven Spielberg. The ceremony featured speeches, a 21-gun salute, flyovers and the playing of military bugle call taps.

Around 150 American veterans who took part in the landings were also expected to attend the ceremony. One American veteran, Robert “Al” Persichitti from New York, died while on his way to the memorial service. He was 102.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prince William also attended a separate Canadian commemorative ceremony near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France.

Here are some scenes from the commemorations.

Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire parade along Utah Beach on June 6 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images

A dog wearing a small replica military helmet stands atop a Willys Jeep on the beach at Arromanches-les-Bains in northwestern France on June 5 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

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A D-Day veteran stands to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force aerobatics team “The Red Arrows” as they pass over a D-Day 80th anniversary concert on June 5 in Portsmouth, England.

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A man in American World War Two uniform stands in front of a board at the D-Day Centre & WW2 Museum, which displays names of the soldiers that left in the first wave from Portland, on June 6 in Portland, England.

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U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet American World War II veterans before a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery on June 6 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with WWII veterans during the Canadian commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Juno Beach Centre near the village of Courseulles-sur-Mer, in northwestern France, on June 6.

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A British officer looks at illuminated graves at the Bayeux War Cemetery, in Bayeux, Northwestern France on June 5, 2024, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) talks with D-Day and WWII Normandy veterans following the UK’s national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing (D-Day Landings) in France in 1944, in Southsea Common, southern England, on June 5.

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Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a UK national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary commemorations of Allied amphibious landing (D-Day Landings) in France in 1944, in Southsea Common, in Portsmouth, southern England, on June 5.

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King Charles III lays a wreath during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6 in Ver-Sur-Mer, France.

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Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire parade along Utah Beach on June 6, 2024 as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and his wife, Brigitte Macron (L), greet Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2ndR) and his wife, Olena Zelenska, upon their arrival to attend the international commemorative ceremony at Omaha Beach marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer, in northwestern France, on June 6.

Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images

Prince William, Prince of Wales, greets the veterans at the Government of Canada ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, at Juno Beach on June 6, 2024 in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France.

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U.S. President Joe Biden (C), U.S. First Lady Jill Biden (R), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L) and Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron (L), attend the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) meets with a British D-Day veteran during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the World War II British Normandy Memorial near the village of Ver-sur-Mer, which overlooks Gold Beach and Juno Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024.

Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images

Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft fly over flags during a ceremony on “Pointe du Hoc” clifftop in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, northwestern France, on June 5, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images

Onlookers gather by DUKW amphibious trucks on the beach in Arromanches-les-Bains, northwestern France, on June 5, 2024, as part of the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images

U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. First Lady Jill Biden walk amid the graves at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial after the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

An 80th D-Day anniversary presidential challenge coin, which the U.S. issued to U.S. WWII veterans, is displayed during the US ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

Actor Tom Hanks (L) and director Steven Spielberg (R) attend the U.S. ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II “D-Day” Allied landings in Normandy, at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooks Omaha Beach in northwestern France, on June 6.

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

Enthusiasts dressed in replica U.S. Army WWII-era military attire gather in Utah Beach on June 6, 2024, during the “D-Day” commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II Allied landings in Normandy.

Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images