Prince William spoke affectionately of the Princess of Wales’ codebreaker grandmother as he revealed his wife ‘would have loved’ to attend a D-Day anniversary event with him today.
The Prince of Wales, 41, joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at the event in Portsmouth this afternoon.
After delivering a moving speech to veterans and leading politicians, William met with members of the public – including war hero who asked after his wife amid her ongoing cancer treatment.
The Prince told him: ‘She is better, thanks. She would’ve loved to be here today.’
The royal went on to reveal how he had been speaking with women who worked at Bletchley Park as codebreakers along with Kate’s grandmother Valerie Middleton.
Pictured: The Prince of Wales seen giving a speech at a D-Day anniversary event in Portsmouth today
The royal continued: ‘I was reminding everyone how her grandmother served at Bletchley so she had quite a bit in common with some of the ladies here.’
Before this, the royal told one of the women: ‘My wife’s grandmother did the same sort of thing as you. Catherine only found out at the end of her life.’
Valerie and her twin sister Mary worked in Hut 16 at Bletchley Park, now engulfed in Milton Keynes, and she was part of the team of crack codebreakers who unlocked the secrets of the German Enigma machine – ultimately helping to win the war for Britain.
The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden reported in 2019 that Valerie ‘never breathed a word’ when the Princess of Wales asked her about her war efforts as a child.
‘She was so sworn to secrecy that she never felt able to tell us,’ Kate told visiting schoolchildren during her tour of the estate near Milton Keynes in 2019.
‘When she was alive, sadly she could never talk about it.’
Valerie was recruited with her twin sister Mary — Kate’s great-aunt — and they monitored diplomatic traffic from secret listening stations.
In this role, they witnessed one of the most extraordinary moments in Bletchley’s history as the twins were on duty when a message was intercepted that Japan had surrendered.
Pictured: the Princess of Wales in May 2021. The royal’s grandmother Valerie Middleton worked as a codebreaker in WWII
Valerie Middleton (pictured) was part of the team of crack codebreakers who unlocked the secrets of the German Enigma machine
This meant they were among the first handful of people — with George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill — to learn that World War II was over.
In 2016, Kate paid tribute to her late grandmother – who passed away in 2006 – and said how proud she was of what she achieved.
Writing a forward for The GCHQ Puzzle Book, the Princess said: ‘They rarely talked about their wartime service, but we now know just how important the men and women of Bletchley Park were, as they tackled some of the hardest problems facing the country.
‘In a new century, their successors at GCHQ continue this intellectual tradition. Like their Bletchley predecessors, they have become well known for valuing neurodiversity and understanding the importance of mental well-being.’
In 2019, Kate paid tribute to her grandmother by wearing a special ‘Codebreakers’ poppy brooch during the wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales revealed in an emotional video message that she is receiving treatment for cancer and has taken a step back from public duties.
The King and Queen watched proceedings from the Royal Box after Charles had delivered his speech
Queen 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.’
King Charles greets Eric Bateman after he had delivered his emotional address in Portsmouth today
Helen Mirren is leading proceedings today – and is seen here up on stage at the D-Day anniversary event
At the Portsmouth commemorations – hosted by Dame Helen Mirren – William read an extract from the diary of Captain Alastair Bannerman, a soldier who was part of D-Day, addressed to his wife on the morning of the landings.
He told the flag-waving crowd he was ‘deeply honoured’ to be part of proceedings on Southsea Common and said ‘we will always remember those who served’.
Delivering his speech to the crowd, the King said: ‘The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity which you 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, now tragically dwindling to so few.
‘It is our privilege to hear that testimony, but our role is not purely passive. It is our duty to ensure that we and future generations do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.’
In his programme notes for the event, the King spoke of his ‘profound admiration and respect’ for those who took part in D-Day, adding: ‘It remains our solemn duty to continue to honour the outstanding gallantry, service and sacrifice of those who took part in that perilous mission.’
D-Day veterans, armed forces personnel and local schoolchildren were among the guests at the star-studded event held on Southsea Common in Portsmouth.
The Hampshire port city was a major staging post for the key Second World War battle, having been the base for the vessels and troops heading to Sword Beach, and nearby Southwick was the headquarters for Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower, who led the Operation Overlord planning.
The commemoration, which took place on a specially erected stage, was kicked off with a flypast by Dakota aircraft before host Dame Helen Mirren took to the stage to narrate a history of how D-Day unfolded and affected those who took part.
The event featured veterans reading dramatic accounts from the invasion as well as wartime songs performed by EastEnders star Emma Barton, American actress Marisha Wallace and Call The Midwife’s Helen George.
