TENS of thousands of people joined the national commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth.

The audience was filled with a who’s who guest list of the world’s most important leaders, including Prime Minister Theresa May, American President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as key members of the royal family, including the Queen and the Prince of Wales.

However, the most important guests were the veterans, whose spirit and steely determination to be part of the events to commemorate theirs and their military mates’ actions stole the show.

The energy and character they brought to the proceedings showed why the beach landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, went so well – and the veterans, now aged well into their 90s, showed they still have plenty of get up and go in them.

The invited audience of veterans and political and military dignitaries watched the commemoration event on Southsea Common, which brought a taste of what life was like in the 1940s through a series of musical performances but also reflected the solemn nature of war time Britain when extracts of letters and messages from soldiers who didn’t return home were read out.

Following the commemoration event, the crowds on Southsea seafront were treated to a fly past of modern Royal Air Force aircraft and historical ones too, including a Spitfire. Later in the afternoon the Red Arrows returned to wow spectators with one of their displays.

The day’s events closed with the departure of the cruise ship MV Boudicca from Portsmouth Harbour that evening.

The Royal British Legion-chartered ship had more than 200 D-Day veterans on board and was escorted into the Channel on its way to Normandy by ships from the Royal Navy and also a vessel from Canada’s navy.

Thousands of people lined both sides of Portsmouth Harbour and Southsea seafront to wave off the wartime heroes.

The sheer number who turned out to cheer and wave the cruise ship off showed the British public still hold these wartime heroes very close to their hearts and will never forget the sacrifices they made for their country 75 years ago.

The D-Day events continued in Portsmouth over the weekend with a 1940s-style vintage festival and spectacular fireworks display.

In the village of Southwick, where much of the final D-Day planning and decision making took place, a two-day festival turned the clocks back to 1944 with vehicles and activities from the time on display.