Queen Camilla sheds a tear for D-Day veterans - after her own father Bruce Shand was imprisoned by the Nazis and earned a Military Cross for valour

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Queen Camilla was overcome with emotion as she took in yesterday's D-Day remembrance and listened to a veteran recount the horror of losing his best friend on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago. 

And the commemorations are likely to have hit home for the wife of King Charles, 75, who has her own family connections to the tragic events that took part during World War II.

Her father, Bruce Shand, was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany - and earned a Military Cross for valour.

Major Shand, who died in June 2006, was commissioned into the 12th Royal Lancers in 1937 after graduating from Sandhurst. 

In 1940 he found himself in France facing the Germans in their drive toward the sea. Pulling back with his men to the coast, he narrowly avoided capture before evacuation from Dunkirk.

Camilla's father, Bruce Shand (pictured on his wedding day in 1946), was taken as a prisoner of war in Germany - and earned a Military Cross for valour.

The citation for his Military Cross speaks of Shand's 'skill and great daring' and how, by 'the fearless manoeuvring of his troop, he covered the withdrawal of a column in the face of fire from four enemy tanks'.

Major Shand also saw action in North Africa and in the battle of El Alamein was ordered to slip through enemy lines on a reconnaissance mission.

Confronted by a German motorised column that engaged his men with heavy fire, he covered the withdrawal of the 1st/6th Rajputana Rifles and organised the evacuation of 20 armoured cars, which would otherwise have fallen into enemy hands.

Again his huge valour was recognised by others, this time with a recommendation that he be awarded a Bar to his MC. The citation said he had proved himself a cavalry leader of 'the first order'.

He was later introduced to Winston Churchill, who admired Major Shand's medal – and commented on how thin he was.

In November 1942 his luck finally ran out when he was captured by retreating German forces.

As reported by Yahoo!, Major Shand described the horrific moment in his autobiography: 'Something like a whiplash stung my cheek and Sergeant Francis beside me slumped to the bottom of the car with a large hole in his chest, killed instantly.'

And adding he didn't recall hitting the ground, he revealed how 'a buzz of German voices greeted my return to consciousness'.

Queen Camilla was overcome with emotion as she took in yesterday's D-Day remembrance and listened to a veteran recount the horror of losing his best friend on the beaches of Normandy 80 years ago

He died in 2006 at the age of 89, and was a strong source of support for Camilla, who has previously spoken with pride of his military service. Camilla and her father pictured in 2003

After the war, Major Shand (pictured left when he was young, and right in his older years) married Camilla's mother, Rosalind Cubitt, and they had two children together 

Major Shand (pictured with his daughter in 2006) also saw action in North Africa and in the battle of El Alamein was ordered to slip through enemy lines on a reconnaissance mission

His radio operator was killed along with his driver as they attempted to flee. And as he climbed out of their burning vehicle, Major Shand was himself shot in the knee. 

He was taken to Germany and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in Spangenberg Castle, Hesse.

After returning home he married Rosalind Cubitt, the daughter of Lord Ashcombe. Camilla was the first of their three children.

Earlier this year, the Queen got to reconnect with a part of her father's history as she visited The Royal Lancers - the regiment her later father served with - in North Yorkshire for the first time since being appointed as their Colonel-in-Chief.

After the war, Major Shand married Camilla's mother, Rosalind Cubitt, and they had two children together.

He died in 2006 at the age of 89, and was a strong source of support for Camilla, who has previously spoken with pride of his military service. 

Tears welled up in Camilla's eyes as she, her husband and the Prince of Wales attended a D-Day memorial event in Porstmouth 

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

In February, the Queen also spoke with fondness as she revealed how her love of reading began as a child - when her father would read bedtime stories to her.

Speaking to comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who asked what sparked her interest in literature at a Buckingham Palace reception, she explained how Major Shand, an avid reader, would 'sit at the bottom of their beds and read them stories, every sort of story you could imagine'.

Tears welled up in Camilla's eyes as she, her husband and the Prince of Wales attended a D-Day memorial event in Porstmouth.

She was emotional 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. 

Charles, who received a standing ovation as he walked onto the stage accompanied by Queen Camilla, is understood to have been 'adamant' he would attend the commemorations as he continues his recovery from 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.'

Charles, who received a standing ovation as he walked onto the stage accompanied by Queen Camilla, is understood to have been 'adamant' he would attend the commemorations as he continues his recovery from cancer.

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'.

Camilla pictured meeting D-Day veteran Eric Bateman following the UK's national commemorative event

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.'

Charles faced breezy conditions on stage as he spoke, with his speech notes blowing around in his hand.

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.

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 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.

Music was also provided by the Royal Marines Drummers.

The King and Queen took to the stage for Charles to give a reading followed later in proceedings by Rishi Sunak.

Readings were also given by Jonny Weldon from The Outlaws and Kate Phillips from Peaky Blinders as well as Iain Glen from Game Of Thrones, Leonie Elliott, also from Call The Midwife, Anjli Mohindra from Bodyguard and Julian Ovenden from Downton Abbey.

The show concluded with a gun salute from the frigate HMS St Albans, which sailed past in the Solent, and a rendition of the national anthem before a flypast by the Red Arrows and Typhoon jets.