President Donald Trump has tweeted a D-Day message. He will gather with other world leaders in Normandy later today to mark the 75th anniversary of the landings

A lone piper has played on a section of the Mulberry Harbour in Ver-sur-Mer to mark the exact minute the first British troops landed on the beaches in 1944.

At 06:26 BST the troops launched the assault on Gold Beach - one of five targeted by the Allies.

The harbour was constructed in the UK and carried across the Channel to allow for supplies to be brought to soldiers. It created a port the size of Dover.

Image source, Pa

Overnight, serving British soldiers marched across the first bridge captured on French soil - 75 years to the minute when the key strategic target was taken from the Nazis.

In 1944 it took troops less than 15 minutes to seize Pegasus Bridge, Benouville, clearing the way for the Allies to storm the beaches hours later.

Taking the bridge helped prevent Nazi tanks from reaching the beaches ahead of the landings.

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of the 75th anniversary of D-day.

The largest ever combined land, air and naval operation in history took place to on this day in 1944.

The Allied assault on beaches in Normandy, northern France,which began the liberation of Nazi-occupied western Europe got under way at H-Hour - 06:30 local time (05:30 BST).

British PM Theresa May will join French President Emmanuel Macron and D-day veterans in Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of the operation.

We will bring updates from events in France and reaction around the world throughout the day.

That's all from us for this evening - thank you for joining us on the first day of our D-Day 75th anniversary coverage.

Keep an eye on our home page for more updates throughout the evening.

We'll be back with a live blog tomorrow covering events in Normandy as veterans from across the world are honoured in France.

Image source, PA

D-Day veteran Arthur Bailey, 95, from Portsmouth, is one of those currently on board MV Boudicca heading to Normandy for tomorrow's 75th anniversary event.

He said the events in Portsmouth today - including a flypast of Spitfires, speeches by world leaders and song and dance performances - were "wonderful".

He added: "Everyone seems to be very satisfied with what we've seen, and the show itself... well, you won't get another one like that."

Image source, TRUSTEES OF THE GREEN HOWARDS MUSEUM

Countless acts of bravery took place on D-Day, but only one earned the hero a Victoria Cross - Britain's highest military honour.

Sgt Maj Stan Hollis, from Middlesbrough, was commended for two acts of valour.

On the morning of 6 June 1944, the then 31-year-old landed in Normandy with the Green Howards.

As the men advanced inland, they were pinned down by machine gun fire from a pillbox and he was described as "charging across the open ground with a Sten gun".

Sgt Maj Hollis later said: "They fired back at me and missed. I don't know if they were more panic-stricken than me.

"I got on top of [the pillbox] and threw a grenade through the slit and it must have shaken them up a bit. They were quite willing to forget about the war, then."

Later, he would rescue comrades under fire in the village of Crépon. He died in 1972.

US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump have arrived in the Republic of Ireland following today's D-Day commemorations.

At the event in Portsmouth earlier, Mr Trump read the same prayer read by President Roosevelt during a radio message ahead of the landings.

And just a few minutes ago he and wife Melania touched down in Air Force One at Shannon Airport.

He will hold a brief meeting with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar, before he goes to his golf resort in Doonbeg.

He'll head back to France for further D-Day commemorations tomorrow.

These stunning photos capture the moment C-47 Dakota planes dropped parachutists in Second World War clothing along the Normandy coast.

The display started this afternoon with flypasts from the Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire and Battle of Britain Memorial Dakota.

The parachutists are landing in fields which were used as a drop zone for the 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion, who went on to destroy bridges in a bid to restrict German movements during the missions in June 1944.

Crowds of people lined the road nearby to watch the display and have been cheering the parachutists.

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Image source, AFP

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

This is the breathtaking view from inside the cockpit of a Red Arrow, as the planes return to the south coast.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The singer and actress spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Rachel Burden after her performance of Vera Lynn's We Will Meet Again this afternoon in Portsmouth.

The BBC helicopter has been following the Dakotas as they fly over south east England towards Normandy.

Among those on board the planes are two D-Day veterans who are set to re-enact their role 75 years on, in parachuting into France.

The planes feature the special black and white striped markings that were used in Operation Neptune.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The 16 countries represented at today's D-Day event have signed a proclamation promising to work together to ensure the "unimaginable horror" of the Second World War is not repeated.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: "I'm delighted that the 16 countries present at today's D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth have agreed a historic proclamation which affirms our shared responsibility to ensure that the horror of the Second World War is never repeated.

"Through this statement, leaders have recommitted to the values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law that have underpinned the stability and prosperity of our nations and our citizens for the past 75 years."

The document will now be donated to the Imperial War Museum.

BBC News Channel

Dakota aircraft have taken off from Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire.

They will carry paratroopers to Caen in Normandy - as they did 75 years ago. The soldiers will wear period uniform and will use traditional round military parachutes of the era.

The planes and wooden gliders helped 7,900 troops land in northern France ahead of the assault on the beaches.

Officially known as Douglas C-47 Skytrain, they were given the nickname Dakotas by British soldiers.

It begins: "Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force:

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months.

"The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you."

Some of Portsmouth's residents have taken to social media to congratulate their city: