Nearly three million troops took part in the assault on Nazi-held France

The Queen will also pay a state visit to France in April to mark the centenary of the Entente Cordiale.

French President Jacques Chirac will make a return State visit to the UK.

Speaking after an Anglo-French summit in London, Mr Blair said he was "delighted" to be invited to mark the D-Day commemorations.

'Common values'

The visits were announced during a press conference following discussions on international terrorism, Iraq, the Middle East and European defence.

Queen's visits to France: 5-7 April 2004 - Marking 100 years of the Entente Cordiale 11 November 1998 - Unveiled a statue of Sir Winston Churchill and attended ceremonies to mark 80th anniversary of the end of First World War 1992: State visit to Paris, Loire and Bordeaux 1972: State visit to Paris, Provence and Normandy 1957: State visit to Paris and Lille

Mr Blair said: "I'm also delighted to say that the president has kindly invited Her Majesty the Queen and myself to participate in the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day in June next year.

"That will be another opportunity to demonstrate our common history and common values."

The Queen will be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh for the state visit to France between 5-7 April, 2004 - her first official trip to the region since 1998.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, hundreds of veterans are set to retrace the steps of Operation Overlord on 6 June next year by sailing from Portsmouth to France.

Liberation

They will dock on the same Normandy beaches where they landed in 1944 in the assault on Nazi-occupied France.

Portsmouth Cathedral will host a service of remembrance to those who fell.

The D-Day plans - which will include a weekend of events celebrating peace - were unveiled in the Hampshire city earlier this month.

Nearly three million Allied troops took part in the air, sea and land attack that became the first step to liberating Europe from Hitler.