David Cameron hailed Britain's enduring relationship with France as he joined Nicolas Sarkozy in commemorating the anniversary of a key Second World War moment.
The French president was in London to mark 70 years since General Charles de Gaulle's radio broadcast from the capital urging his nation to resist the Nazi occupation of France.
"Just as our two great countries stood together in the past, so we must stand shoulder to shoulder today," the Prime Minister declared during one of a series of ceremonies.
"This is not just some ceremonial friendship, it is a working relationship. We face huge challenges today - from the conflict in Afghanistan to the economic crisis to climate change - and I am committed to working with President Sarkozy, working with France to tackle them," he said.
Mr Sarkozy, the first French premier to mark the anniversary in London, visited the studio at BBC Broadcasting House where General de Gaulle's original appeal was made on June 18 1940.
The rallying cry came the day after Marshal Philippe Petain's government announced its surrender to the Germans but few Frenchmen actually heard him declare that "the flame of French resistance must not and will not be extinguished". Further broadcasts in the following days led to him becoming so well-known, however, that he was subsequently court martialled in his absence and sentenced to death for treason.
Prince Charles and the president laid wreaths at the statue of the General in Carlton Gardens - near the office previously used as the headquarters of the Free French.
A French trumpeter then sounded The Last Post and a minute's silence was observed before The RAF band played a refrain from French anthem Le Marseillaise.
Mr Sarkozy was then met by the Prime Minister at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where they were greeted by a flypast of a Spitfire, a Typhoon and a French Air Force Rafale.
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A crowd of 1,600 spectators watched Mr Sarkozy award the Legion d'Honneur to six Second World War veterans, three British, who took part in the Operation Dragoon landings in Provence in August 1944.
