The sun was shining on the shores of Normandy this Thursday morning, as Canadian ceremonies were launched to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day at Courseulles-sur-Mer in France.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his French counterpart Gabriel Attal, along with Prince William, were among the dignitaries who visited Juno Beach, where flags bearing the maple leaf were fluttering in a gentle breeze.

Front and center in a crowd of thousands were 13 Canadian veterans in military attire, the oldest of whom is 104 years old, who survived the war effort on the same beach many decades ago.

Trudeau told them during a speech in which he referenced the crucial role Canada played in the Allies’ efforts: "There are no words to describe the enormity of the debt we owe you."

Behind him, the waters of the English Channel were calm, and a naval ship could be seen offshore. The sand dunes were covered with wildflowers and other plants.

Against this tranquil backdrop, Trudeau issued a warning.

He added, "Our way of life did not come about by accident, and it will not endure without effort."

"Democracy is still under threat today. It is threatened by aggressors who wish to redraw borders. It is threatened by demagoguery, misinformation, disinformation, and foreign interference."

He said the world owes veterans who sacrificed so much for our collective freedom to continue defending democracy every day.

In his speech, the French Prime Minister warned that the world must not fall into complacency.

About 160,000 Allied soldiers landed on the beaches that fateful day 80 years ago to start an effort now remembered as the beginning of the end of World War II.

In total, 4,414 Allied soldiers were killed on the first day of the invasion, including 381 Canadians.

June 6 marked the beginning of the bloody Battle of Normandy, which lasted 77 days and initiated the Allies' liberation of France.

Prince William stated in a speech during the ceremony that it was the most ambitious campaign in military history.

He added, "It came at a heavy cost."

Ultimately, the casualties were immense: 73,000 Allied soldiers were killed and 153,000 were injured. Approximately 20,000 French civilians were also killed, many as a result of Allied bombing of French villages and cities.

Historians estimate that around 22,000 German soldiers are among those buried around Normandy, with between 4,000 to 9,000 of them killed, wounded, or missing during the D-Day invasion alone.

The cemeteries in the area are also the final resting place for more than 5,000 Canadians, including 359 who died on D-Day.

After observing a moment of silence for the fallen, Trudeau, Attal, and Prince William walked to the sand dunes and laid wreaths in remembrance.

The event, which featured performances by a variety of Canadian artists, concluded with a performance by The Trews. As they sang "Heroes' Road," one of the Canadian veterans wiped away a tear.

The leaders and the prince took a few minutes to chat with each of the Canadian veterans after the ceremony, sitting or bending down to get closer and clasping their hands.

Charles Davis, a veteran living in Windsor, Ontario, asked to speak to William.

William asked him about his role on D-Day but didn’t quite hear him, so a family member repeated the question for him.

Davis said, "What did you do when you got to the beach? I got out of there." William laughed, and those around them shared a moment of levity on a solemn day, and Davis gave the prince a Windsor pin.

The veterans headed toward the beach with their family members and comrades, leaving the audience to take a quiet moment near the shore.

In the afternoon, during a larger ceremony at Omaha Beach, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed dignitaries including Trudeau while planes flew overhead.

A crowd of thousands repeatedly rose to salute the veterans as large screens showcased live footage of them taking their seats.

The audience applauded loudly for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon his arrival. The Ukrainian leader hugged Trudeau, and the two exchanged brief pleasantries.