The Queen attended the 50th anniversary of D-Day and took the salute at the march past.

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On the beach at Arromanches then,

Young men saw friends die;

Bracing the sands of Arromanches now,

Old men softly cry.

 

There, by the sea at Arromanches,

They cheer a much-loved Queen;

But the Arromanches that their sovereign knows

Is not the place they've seen,

And the Arromanches where their sovereign goes

Is not the place they've been.

 

On the beach at Arromanches then,

Young men saw friends die;

Facing the sands of Arromanches now,

Old men wipe an eye.

 

There, by the sea at Arromanches,

They step out side by side,

While the memories of war parade

And match them stride for stride,

And the memories of those who stayed

Return upon the tide.

 

On the beach at Arromanches then,

Young men saw friends die;

Gracing the sands of Arromanches now,

Old men say goodbye.