UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak initiated a torch relay on Tuesday in London to start the 80th-anniversary commemorations of D-Day. The ceremony, attended by various representatives including British Army soldiers and cadets, took place at Horse Guards. The torch, part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) activities, was first handed to Sunak by CWGC's Director General Claire Horton. Sunak then passed it to 99-year-old Navy veteran, Peter Kent, who served during the D-Day landings.
The torch will travel across the UK, visiting capital cities and major war cemetery and memorial sites. Its journey will culminate in crossing over to France for the official D-Day commemorations in June. A key event will be a vigil at the CWGC’s Bayeux War Cemetery on June 5, where the torch will be featured prominently.
This initiative underlines the CWGC's ongoing commitment, since its founding in 1917, to honor the legacy and sacrifices of those who died in the World Wars. More than 25,000 Commonwealth war graves will be illuminated by the CWGC this summer as part of the commemorative events.