Public Locked Out of Portsmouth’s D-Day 75th Anniversary Event
Portsmouth fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the Queen, President Trump, or Prime Minister Theresa May during the big 75th D-Day anniversary celebrations are out of luck. The Ministry of Defence has sealed off the entire event, leaving the public barred from the main action.
Triple-Layer Security Blocks Public View
Despite the event marking a landmark moment in British history, locals and visitors can only watch from afar. The MOD has installed miles of triple-layer fencing and shut down the Southsea common area completely.
Only invited guests will be allowed inside the commemorations, held on June 5. For the rest, screens will broadcast highlights from the event—but that’s it.
City Spruced Up for VIPs
Portsmouth council has pulled out all the stops to impress the high-profile attendees. The city’s memorial area has been fully re-turfed, and all public spaces pressure-washed and constantly watered by sprinklers to look pristine.
Honouring Veterans with Flypasts and Channel Crossing
- The Ministry of Defence hosts the event with world leaders and dignitaries attending to salute wartime heroes.
- An impressive RAF flypast will mark the occasion.
- Later, around 300 veterans and guests will board the MV Boudicca for a historic crossing to Normandy, escorted by a Royal Navy ship in tribute to the original D-Day flotilla.
The ship trip is funded by The Royal British Legion and a LIBOR grant from HM Treasury.
High Security Amid Protests
Massive police presence and tight military security surround the event. Anti-Trump protests are expected, both sparked by the visiting US President and frustration over the public being excluded from the live ceremony.
For many, this once-in-a-lifetime event is turning into a frustrating “VIP-only” spectacle, leaving the public on the sidelines of history.
