ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Anti-Trump activists are planning a demonstration during a service in Portsmouth honouring those who lost their lives fighting for their country on D-Day.

Demonstrators in Portsmouth are preparing to protest against US president Donald Trump outside the D-Day commemoration ceremony which he will attend later.

Large crowds are expected to descend on Portsmouth's Guildhall Square at 11am on Wednesday as Mr Trump joins world leaders at Southsea Common nearby to pay tribute to the allied forces who fought in the pivotal World War Two battle.

Hundreds of veterans will attend the event and up to 300 will board a cruise ship, the MV Boudicca, to retrace their route to Normandy 75 years ago.

The centrepiece British ceremony will tell the story of the build-up to D-Day through live music, performance and testimonials, and will be broadcast on big screens on the common to those not invited into the main event.

Donald Trump's 2019 UK state visit protests - In pictures 62 show all Donald Trump's 2019 UK state visit protests - In pictures 1/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square AFP/Getty Images 2/62 A pro-U.S. President Donald Trump supporter catches a milkshake and throws it back during a protest against Trump in London, Reuters 3/62 People march down Whitehall during an anti-Trump protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, 04 June 2019. US President Trump and First Lady Trump are on a three-day official visit to Britain EPA 4/62 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters 5/62 Picture show protesters making their presence known at Trafalgar Square as they protest against the UK visit by the US President Donald Trump in London SplashNews.com 6/62 A pro-U.S. President Donald Trump supporter catches a milkshake and throws it back during a protest against Trump in London, Reuters 7/62 Donald Trump supporters argue with people that gathered in central London to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 8/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 9/62 People march down Whitehall during an anti-Trump protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK at Trafalgar Square in London EPA 10/62 "Baby Trump" balloons float over demonstrators as they take part in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters 11/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 12/62 People hand out Donald Trump toilet paper in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 13/62 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 14/62 The 'Trump Baby' blimp is inflated in Parliament Square in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 15/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 16/62 Anti-Trump protesters with a Trump baby blimp flying over Parliament Square gather for a protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK EPA 17/62 A Donald Trump look-a-like takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London with Alison Jackson Reuters 18/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 19/62 Protestors gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump. PA 20/62 People gather next to a statue of U.S. President Donald Trump during a protest in Trafalgar Square Reuters 21/62 A woman holds up a banner standing next to the 'Trump Baby' blimp as people gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump in Parliament Square AP 22/62 Trump Babysitters inflate a large Trump Baby Blimp in Parliament Square outside Westminster Getty Images 23/62 A woman holds a placard as the 'Trump Baby' blimp is inflated in Parliament Square AP 24/62 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 25/62 Security officers are seen during an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 26/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 27/62 Man in a mask stands in a cage as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump in Parliament Square AP 28/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 29/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team ties up balloons in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trum PA 30/62 A dog is seen during an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 31/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 32/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 33/62 A demonstrator holds up a sign as he takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 34/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 35/62 A convoy transporting U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in front of Buckingham Palace, as it travels to St James's Palace Reuters 36/62 Police patrol Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn 37/62 People hand out Donald Trump toilet paper in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 38/62 A demonstrator poses for a cameraman, as he participates a protest in Londo Reuters 39/62 Trump protestors dress as Boris Johnson in Parliament Square outside Westminster Getty Images 40/62 Demonstrators wear U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May masks, as they take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 41/62 A demonstrator hangs up a poster as he takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London, Reuters 42/62 Demonstrators take part in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, in London Reuters 43/62 A banner is seen in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square Reuters 44/62 A shopping trolley full of Donald Trump toilet paper AP 45/62 A pro-Trump activist poses with the flag of Israel in front of the Donald Trump robot in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 46/62 A protester takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 47/62 The Donald Trump 'baby' blimp is inflated PA 48/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 49/62 A protest sculpture depicting US President Donald Trump on a toilet using a smartphone as protesters against the US president's State Visit gather in Trafalgar Square AFP/Getty Images 50/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team sets up the Donald Trump baby balloon in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 51/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square AFP/Getty Images 52/62 Members of the Baby Trump Balloon team set up the balloon in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 53/62 Commuters and tourists take selfies with a 16ft talking robot of US President Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet in Trafalgar Square PA 54/62 Security officers stand guard, as they wait for U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit in London Reuters 55/62 A protester holds a protest placard regarding the conflict in Syria in front of the statue of Winston Churchill outside the Houses of Parliament where demonstrators are gathering for an anti-Trump demonstration in London AFP/Getty Images 56/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team waits for it to be inflated in Parliament Square PA 57/62 A protestor in Parliament Square on the second day of the state visit by the US President PA 58/62 A 16ft talking robot of US President Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet in Trafalgar Square PA 59/62 A supporter of Donald Trump argues with police outside Buckingham Palace Reuters 60/62 The giant message for Trump was mowed into a lawn under the flight path of Air Force One @born_eco 61/62 Trump's helicopter lands at Buckingham Palace Reuters 62/62 The student also wrote "climate change is real" in the lawn @born_eco 1/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square AFP/Getty Images 2/62 A pro-U.S. President Donald Trump supporter catches a milkshake and throws it back during a protest against Trump in London, Reuters 3/62 People march down Whitehall during an anti-Trump protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK at Trafalgar Square in London, Britain, 04 June 2019. US President Trump and First Lady Trump are on a three-day official visit to Britain EPA 4/62 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump Reuters 5/62 Picture show protesters making their presence known at Trafalgar Square as they protest against the UK visit by the US President Donald Trump in London SplashNews.com 6/62 A pro-U.S. President Donald Trump supporter catches a milkshake and throws it back during a protest against Trump in London, Reuters 7/62 Donald Trump supporters argue with people that gathered in central London to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 8/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 9/62 People march down Whitehall during an anti-Trump protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK at Trafalgar Square in London EPA 10/62 "Baby Trump" balloons float over demonstrators as they take part in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters 11/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 12/62 People hand out Donald Trump toilet paper in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 13/62 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 14/62 The 'Trump Baby' blimp is inflated in Parliament Square in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 15/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 16/62 Anti-Trump protesters with a Trump baby blimp flying over Parliament Square gather for a protest against US President Donald J. Trump State visit to the UK EPA 17/62 A Donald Trump look-a-like takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London with Alison Jackson Reuters 18/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Alex Lentati 19/62 Protestors gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump. PA 20/62 People gather next to a statue of U.S. President Donald Trump during a protest in Trafalgar Square Reuters 21/62 A woman holds up a banner standing next to the 'Trump Baby' blimp as people gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump in Parliament Square AP 22/62 Trump Babysitters inflate a large Trump Baby Blimp in Parliament Square outside Westminster Getty Images 23/62 A woman holds a placard as the 'Trump Baby' blimp is inflated in Parliament Square AP 24/62 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 25/62 Security officers are seen during an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 26/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 27/62 Man in a mask stands in a cage as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump in Parliament Square AP 28/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 29/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team ties up balloons in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trum PA 30/62 A dog is seen during an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 31/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 32/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 33/62 A demonstrator holds up a sign as he takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 34/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square in Londo AFP/Getty Images 35/62 A convoy transporting U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in front of Buckingham Palace, as it travels to St James's Palace Reuters 36/62 Police patrol Downing Street Jeremy Selwyn 37/62 People hand out Donald Trump toilet paper in central London as people start to gather to demonstrate against the state visit of President Donald Trump AP 38/62 A demonstrator poses for a cameraman, as he participates a protest in Londo Reuters 39/62 Trump protestors dress as Boris Johnson in Parliament Square outside Westminster Getty Images 40/62 Demonstrators wear U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May masks, as they take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 41/62 A demonstrator hangs up a poster as he takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London, Reuters 42/62 Demonstrators take part in a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump, in London Reuters 43/62 A banner is seen in front of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square Reuters 44/62 A shopping trolley full of Donald Trump toilet paper AP 45/62 A pro-Trump activist poses with the flag of Israel in front of the Donald Trump robot in Trafalgar Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 46/62 A protester takes part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 47/62 The Donald Trump 'baby' blimp is inflated PA 48/62 Demonstrators take part in an anti-Trump protest in London Reuters 49/62 A protest sculpture depicting US President Donald Trump on a toilet using a smartphone as protesters against the US president's State Visit gather in Trafalgar Square AFP/Getty Images 50/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team sets up the Donald Trump baby balloon in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 51/62 Anti-Trump demonstrators inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby in Parliament Square AFP/Getty Images 52/62 Members of the Baby Trump Balloon team set up the balloon in Parliament Square, London on the second day of the state visit to the UK by US President Donald Trump PA 53/62 Commuters and tourists take selfies with a 16ft talking robot of US President Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet in Trafalgar Square PA 54/62 Security officers stand guard, as they wait for U.S. President Donald Trump during his state visit in London Reuters 55/62 A protester holds a protest placard regarding the conflict in Syria in front of the statue of Winston Churchill outside the Houses of Parliament where demonstrators are gathering for an anti-Trump demonstration in London AFP/Getty Images 56/62 A member of the Baby Trump Balloon team waits for it to be inflated in Parliament Square PA 57/62 A protestor in Parliament Square on the second day of the state visit by the US President PA 58/62 A 16ft talking robot of US President Donald Trump sitting on a gold toilet in Trafalgar Square PA 59/62 A supporter of Donald Trump argues with police outside Buckingham Palace Reuters 60/62 The giant message for Trump was mowed into a lawn under the flight path of Air Force One @born_eco 61/62 Trump's helicopter lands at Buckingham Palace Reuters 62/62 The student also wrote "climate change is real" in the lawn @born_eco

But Activist groups including Stand Up to Racism, Love Music Hate Racism and the Kurdistan Solidarity Campaign are reportedly planning the demonstration under the banner Together Against Trump.

Meanwhile Hampshire police is gearing up to deal with protesters from at least 15 cities across the UK.

Miles of fencing, roadblocks and checkpoints have reportedly been set up and residents have been told not to aim long-lens cameras or fly drones over the common from nearby flats.

The organised protests have been confronted by a fierce backlash with many calling for the D-Day commemorations to focus on the veterans rather than Mr Trump’s presence at the event.

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, a Liberal Democrat leader of Portsmouth City Council, said Mr Trump’s visit will obscure the focus of the ceremony.

He said: “I am disappointed because it will change the nature of the event a great deal.

“For us, the centre of the events was meant to be the veterans.

“With Donald Trump coming, I think the chances are that it will move from being around commemoration and instead it will be a day of controversy.

“There will be protests and that is not what we want.”

However, Portsmouth’s Tory leader, Councillor Donna Jones had a more positive view of Mr Trump's visit.

She said: “For many of the veterans, having the President of America attend the event will bring international focus to this global commemoration and present a once in a lifetime opportunity for the veterans.

One person wrote online: "Today we honour those that are braver than you or I will ever be. If you are coming here to Portsmouth to protest.Please don’t.Thats not what today is for."

Nigel Farage hit out at the planned demonstration as “utterly inappropriate” earlier this week.

Speaking on LBC Radio, he said: "There are paid-for coaches coming from 15 cities in the United Kingdom so that people can come and stand in the streets of London to show their virtue and how good they are and how awful the American President is. That’s fine.

But he added that the event is “not just to commemorate the 300 veterans who will be attending but the thousands who never came back.

"Protest on that day is completely and utterly inappropriate whatever you think of the American President."

However, Simon Magorian, who convenes Stand Up Against Racism Portsmouth, told local media that the protests would not be in immediate proximity to the national ceremony in order to respect the veterans.

They will take place in Guildhall Square which is two miles away from Southsea Common where the event will take place.

Earlier, Donald Trump dismissed protests against his visit to the UK as "organised flops".

In an early morning tweet on the third day of his visit, the US president said: "I kept hearing that there would be 'massive' rallies against me in the UK, but it was quite the opposite.

"The big crowds, which the Corrupt Media hates to show, were those that gathered in support of the USA and me.

"They were big & enthusiastic as opposed to the organized flops!"