King Charles delivers his first speech since cancer diagnosis at an event in Portsmouth

King Charles III delivered his first speech since being diagnosed of cancer at an event commemorating those who served during World War II. The British monarch was in Portsmouth, England to mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. He was accompanied by Queen Camilla and Prince William.

In a video shared on the official royal website, he told the crowd of veterans and politicians, "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, now tragically dwindling to so few."

The King received a standing ovation as he walked on stage with Queen Camilla, and the Daily Mail reported he was "adamant" about attending the event despite battling cancer.

Earlier this year, in February, Buckingham Palace announced Charles had been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is undergoing treatment. The exact form of cancer was not revealed. The dignosis came to light after the monarch underwent a prostate surgery. 

"Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," the palace said in a statement at the time.

In March, he attended Easter services, his first major event since announcing his cancer diagnosis, and officially returned to his public-facing duties in May but did not address the public or the media. 

During his speech, King Charles III also highlighted Portsmouth’s role in the mission, saying, "Those who gathered here in Portsmouth would never forget the sight. It was by far the largest military fleet the world has ever known. Yet all knew that both victory and failure were possible, and none could know their fate."

He concluded with a reminder to give thanks to those who served and lost their lives in service of freedom.

"So as we give thanks for all those who gave so much to win the victory, whose fruits we still enjoy to this day, let us once again commit ourselves always to remember, cherish and honor those who served that day and to live up to the freedom they died for by balancing rights with civic responsibilities to our country," he said. "For we are all eternally in their debt."

The Portsmouth event falls on the day before the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing, which took place on June 6, 1944. The seaside town hosted some of the 156,000 Allied and Commonwealth troops the day before the invasion, which altered the course of WWII.