D-Day 75 live: Piper marks moment of first British landing in Normandy

Events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day have begun in Normandy with a lone piper in Port Winston marking the minute the invasion began and the moment the first British soldier landed on Gold beach.

Later veterans will descend on the town square in France as part of a parade, before a Red Arrows flypast and a firework display.

Across the Channel, a service of remembrance and wreath laying takes place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire and in Portsmouth a veteran’s parade will take place before a memorial service at the city’s D-Day Stone.

In London, the Duke of Sussex will attend Founder’s Day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea where he will see the Chelsea Pensioners and six veterans from the Normandy Landings.

6.45am

Donald Trump, who will fly from Ireland to France for ceremonies later today, tweeted an evocative image of the landings.

6.25am

The start of the day was marked at 7.25am (local time) with the tradition of a lone piper playing a lament on the remaining Mulberry Harbour in the town called Port Winston. This signals the minute the invasion began and the moment the first British soldier landed on Gold beach.

Stood atop the structure, Pipe Major Trevor Macey-Lillie, of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery (The Scottish Gunners) performed Highland Laddie as crowds gathered on the beach below him and lined the promenade, applauding his performance.