The 70th Anniversary Of The D-Day Landings Are Commemorated In Normandy

"I'm saving you a seat, Monsieur le Président!"

NEVER was there a time when Her Maj dressed so that she could be more easily seen than on this event. (Which is apt; no shade, Liz.)

QE2

Speaking of throwing shade, thought, QE2 seriously looks like she's thinking about how best to slowly poison Queen Margrethe (of Denmark, there in the blue) later. I've decided they secretly hate each other and have for years. I'm just making this up -- the next shot after this, in fact, they seem to be cheerfully chatting each other up -- but isn't it more fun it it's SECRET LOATHING?

Queen Maxima and President Obama

First of all, these two totally were delighted to see each other -- there is a whole series of them like this. I like to think that they're having a discussion about how to get Michelle to try a turban. (Somewhere, Michelle is like, "NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.") I need to admit that I recognized like the side of Maxima's head in a group shot, because who else would be wearing sunglasses and a yellow turban?

Obama and Prince Charles

"Putin, am I right?"

These two are ALSO have a good time. I must note, in the interest of completeness, that all the cheerful greetings between nations were before the event started, at which point everyone was totally appropriately thoughtful and solemn.

These events are interesting for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is seeing world leaders being like, "DUDE! I haven't seen you since that time we were talking about climate change! How are the kids?! Your grandson is HUGE." It's easy to forget that the people you see on the news are actual people who actually know each other.

Camilla and Samantha Cameron

These are some LOVELY hats. I thought Samantha Cameron was Crown Princess Mary of Denmark for a sec. (CPM doesn't seem to be there.)

Queen Mathilde

She looks elegant, as usual.

Queen Elizabeth Takes A Train To Paris, Day One

Okay, with the Big Stuff Today at least partially in hand, let's rewind to everything that happened yesterday. Of course, one just needs to pop over on the Eurostar to get to Paris these days. MODERN CONVENIENCES. I actually love this photo, because it kind of feels like QE2 is the head bad-ass in this team of...okay, it's like she's in RED, okay? In a stunning turn of events, Queen Elizabeth IS Helen Mirren in RED 3.

Queen Elizabeth II is welcomed by French President Francois Hollande, Day One

"We just had the rugs replaced. I think you'll like them."

Lovely in pink; she also wore this to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at the Arc de Triomphe later in the day. Sigh. I know we talk about London on this website a lot, but not for nothing, I also really love Paris. It looks like it was GORGEOUS in Paris yesterday, too. (I know this from watching a lot of the French Open: Martina was complaining about the traffic and the other announcer was like, "um, basically every head of state is here," and she was just not having it.)

Queen Elizabeth II's Official visit in Paris, Day One

They even hung out the flag for her.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Day One

Sir Peter Ricketts, the British ambassador to France, held a garden party for the Queen, because it seems the British really DO love a garden party, much as Americans love a BBQ. (As an American, however, I do ALSO love a garden party. Are we outside? Do I have a drink? I'm happy.) Anyway, they're both VERY nicely turned out. I can only assume they're talking about how many pastries they plan to eat while they're in France.

Princess Anne, Day One

Princess Anne is in Portsmouth for the D-Day events, and I assume she is thinking about whether anyone here needs court-martialing. She looks sharp and sharp-eyed and also sharp-tongued.

Prince Charles, Day One

Meanwhile, on the 5th, Charles and Cams met with WWII vets, per our photo service, "near Pegasus Bridge (Also known as the Bénouville Bridge, the taking of [which] was an important strategic victory) during D-Day Commemorations." The photos coming out from all of these events are amazing. Here, Charles waits as, again per our photo service, "89 year old Parachute Regiment Veteran Jock Hutton takes part in a tandem parachute jump with the Red Devils during the D-Day 70 Commemorations." OKAY. THAT IS AMAZING. I want to read a book about Jock Hutton, dashing WWII parachuter, RIGHT NOW.

Prince Charles and Jock Hutton, Day One

He looks quite spry, especially since he's 89 AND JUST LEAPT OUT OF A PLANE; I just read that there's a 93 year old American who's going to do the same on Friday. My grandmother is 93 and I CANNOT IMAGINE HER JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE. Although, I guess at that age, part of you might be like, "WHAT THE HELL. If this goes bad, that's exactly how I want to go." Now I feel like I might have just talked myself into jumping out of a plane when I'm 93.

Camilla and Charles, Day One

There are A TON of shots of Camilla -- who looks lovely in this blue, although my god Camilla you can belt something eventually! -- chatting up all the veterans at this event and the shots are all basically delightful. She and this gentleman, in particular, are obviously finding one each other a TREAT and are (harmlessly) flirting with each other. More than one of the royals reporters I've read have said that of all of them, Camilla is always the warmest and the friendliest to the press corps (which is in her best interest, obviously, but I don't get the impression that they think it's a put-on) and kind of a kick.

Camilla, Day One

Like, whatever these two are talking about, I like to think it's saucy. From what I understand, this was an event for glider pilots, which I didn't even know was a THING. Needless to say, it's quite interesting and also seems slightly insane. I want to read a book about dashing glider pilots ALSO. Probably a dashing glider pilot and a parachuter are love with the same girl, right? And then one of them dies OR IS PRESUMED DEAD BUT IS ACTUALLY BEHIND ENEMY LINES! And then the other goes to RESCUE HIM but HE gets killed. I am going to cry so hard at that book I just pitched, which might be slightly based on Pearl Harbor now that I think about it.

70th Anniversary of D-Day

If this were an audio-visual display, some of these photos I would just play silently, like, [respectful silence so as to better drink in the events]. This picture is amazing, but SO much of the photography coming out of this is amazing. The photojournalists are BRINGING IT.

D-Day 70th Anniversary

I hope this is our is 93 year old American making his entrance.

Well Played, Everyone: The 70th Anniversary of D-Day

HISTORY. You know how I enjoy it. The 70th anniversary of D-Day is, as you know, today: The BBC is doing a ton of coverage of it, and the New York Times has a great piece talking to men who were at Normandy about what they remember (they speak to an American, a Canadian, a Brit, a Frenchman, and a German); the Los Angeles Times has all of their archives of the front pages up, and Eisenhower's notes, win or lose. In short, there are all kinds of fascinating and moving historical to-dos happening today (I have already cried once; it doesn't help that HBO is running a Band of Brothers marathon). And everyone came out and there are hats and turbans ahoy. Shall we take a look? Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth II herself is playing a big part in a lot of the ceremonies in part because she actually served in the armed forces herself during World War II (she's also doing a proper State Visit to Paris and having a flower market named after her and all kinds of whatnot). As per the History Channel, "After months of begging her father to let his heir pitch in, Elizabeth—then an 18-year-old princess—joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. Known as Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, she donned a pair of coveralls and trained in London as a mechanic and military truck driver. The queen remains the only female member of the royal family to have entered the armed forces and is the only living head of state who served in World War II." THAT IS A BOOK. Obviously, if it were a book, she would fall in love with the dashing commoner who trained her in mechanics but It Could Not Be, etc etc. Anyway, let's take a look at some of the events -- there are literally old men PARACHUTING within! As well as hats, of course. (Editorial note: Kate and Wills are attending an event this afternoon as well, but they'll get their own post with some other bits and pieces, because events are continuing throughout the day; hilariously, with The Queen, and Charles, and William all out of England, guess who is officially in charge, royal family speaking? HARRY. HOLD DOWN THE FORT, Harry. Clean up the mess from that party before everyone gets home.) Other stuff you might be interested in reading on this tip: The Queen's hat was too big for Francois Hollande's Citroen so they had to dig up another car for her at the last minute. Thank God someone thought of that before she got there and her head got stuck. Imagine the scandale And this is AWESOME: "All day [June 6th] BBC Radio 4 will be re-voicing the news bulletin scripts that were read out as the allied forces landed in Normandy for D-Day, 70 years ago to the day. Benedict Cumberbatch will be joined by Sir Patrick Stewart and Toby Jones to read bulletins within the station’s usual news output, at the time at which they will have originally been broadcast." That link has a clip of Cumberbatch reading one of the bulletins. It's really neat. I'm sure at some point, they'll have all of them available for us to hear. (Here is, indeed, a link to them all, thanks to Fug National Mer.) Additionally, as you guys know, I cannot resist books about People Having Romantical Problems During Wars, so if you have good WWII Book Recommendations, this seems like a good place for us to share in the comments, right? I have several that I will pop in there, too. Books! History! Hats! Cumberbatch!