Princess Anne seamlessly transitions between English and French in poignant speech to mark D-Day anniversary

The princess, joined by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, unveiled a statue of a Second World War Canadian Royal Regina Rifleman that will "tell the story of loyalty, bravery and duty" for generations to come.

Princess Anne, 73, has been Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment since 1982.

In a speech, the Princess Royal said: "The Regina Rifle Regiment, as it was then known, was 80 years ago today, across the channel, preparing to land on the beaches of Normandy.

"One can only imagine at the sense of trepidation, anticipation, and perhaps fear of the unknown."

She then seamlessly transitioned into French, adding: "Mais lors de ce jour fatidique, le jour J, il y a 80 ans demain, ce sentiment de loyauté, de bravoure et de devoir a vu le régiment prendre d'assaut Juno Beach – l'un des premiers régiments alliés à débarquer en France dans ce qui était un effort monumental pour débarrasser le monde du fléau du nazisme, après cinq années de guerre."

This translates to: "But on that fateful day, D-Day, 80 years ago tomorrow, that sense of loyalty, bravery and duty saw the Regiment storm Juno Beach – one of the first Allied regiments to land in France in what was a monumental effort to rid the world of the scourge of Nazism, after five years of war."

The mother-of-two continued to seamlessly transition from English to French throughout the speech.

Princess Anne continued: "Despite suffering over 100 casualties on the beach, the Regiment continued to advance with unwavering determination: liberating Reviers, Fontaine Henry, and then Bretteville l’Orgueilleuse.

"How fitting it is on this 80th anniversary of the landing and the commencement of the Battle for Normandy, that this statue has been unveiled in honour of the Regina Rifles who sacrificed so much for the cause of liberty and freedom.

"Il est également opportun que la statue se trouve ici à Bretteville l'Orgueilleuse, où les 7, 8 et 9 juin 1944, le Régiment a résisté de plein fouet aux contre-attaques ennemies, sans céder aucun terrain."

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The French paragraph translates to: "It is also appropriate that the statue is here in Bretteville l'Orgueilleuse, where on June 7, 8 and 9, 1944, the Regiment resisted enemy counterattacks head-on, without giving up any ground."

Speaking about the statue that was unveiled, the Princess Royal concluded: "The statue unveiled today will forever tell the story of loyalty, of bravery, and of duty.

"I also hope it will remind future generations to never forget the sacrifice and determination of the Regina Rifles. Up the Johns."