Princes William and Harry to attend Gallipoli centenary in 2015

PRINCE William has revealed that he and brother Harry will take part in next year’s Gallipoli centenary on the eve of tomorrow’s 99th commemorations.

PRINCE William has revealed that he and his brother Prince Harry will take part in next year’s Gallipoli centenary on the eve of tomorrow’s 99th anniversary commemorations.

William told today’s reception at Parliament House in Canberra that Harry — a captain in the British Army who is now based in London after his time Afghanistan — would join him in 2015.

In his speech, the Duke spoke warmly of Australia’s invaluable role in building an open and peaceful Asia-Pacific.

Over the years, Australians have fought bravely for freedom in numerous conflicts,” the Duke said.

“As those who were involved pass on, succeeding generations must remember and keep vivid the sacrifice they made.

“Catherine and I look forward to paying tribute to them at tomorrow’s ANZAC Day commemoration; and — with my brother Harry — to taking part in next year’s Gallipoli centenary.”

Gallipoli centenary celebrations are expected to occur around the world, and a spokesman for the Palace said they “would not specify” which celebrations they would attend when contacted by News Corp Australia.

News_Image_File: Brothers in arms ... Prince William, left, and Prince Harry, right at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, in 2009. Pic: Kirsty Wigglesworth

The news of the Princes’ involvement in next year’s commemorations come on the eve of tomorrow’s commemorations in Canberra which both the Duke and Duchess will be involved in at the Australian War Memorial.

The couple will be presented with a plaque carved from a branch of an Aleppo pine that was grown from a seed sent back to Australia by a Digger whose brother was killed at Lone Pine Ridge in 1915.

The pair will also plant another sampling cultivated from a pine cone sent from Gallipoli’s historic Lone Pine.

Victoria Cross winner Mark Donaldson and two Australian veterans from Afghanistan will present them with a Victoria Cross replica handcrafted from the tree.

News_Image_File: Special honour ... SAS Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross medal by Governor-General Bryce last year.

William and Kate, who will lay a floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, are the first royals to attend an Anzac Day commemorative service in the national capital for nearly 50 years.

Their presence is expected to tip crowds past the average attendance of 15,000.

A much bigger number — up to 35,000 — will attend the dawn service.

Newly-installed governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove — a former army general — and Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be at the national service.

The last royal Anzac Day in Canberra was in 1970 when the Queen and Prince Philip were in Australia for bicentenary celebrations.

They laid a wreath of red velvet poppies on the Stone of Remembrance.

The royal couple’s next Anzac Day event was in Hobart in 1988. The Duke went to the dawn service before the couple attended a march of 4500 former servicemen and women.

The last time a royal attended an Anzac Day event in Australia was in 1998 when Prince Philip took the salute at a parade in Darwin.

News_Image_File: In their father’s footsteps ... Prince Charles and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard at the Anzac Day Dawn service at Gallipoli on April 25, 2005. Pic: Gregg Porteous

He attracted a record turnout of some 600 marchers and a crowd of 3000.

In Darwin’s sweltering heat, the then 77-year-old Duke said the entire Gallipoli campaign faltered on misplaced confidence by the British cabinet.

By the time an Allied landing force of some 70,000 men, had been put together, the Turks had been given plenty of time to prepare “a very hot reception” for it, he said.

For the 90th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 2005, Prince Charles represented the Queen at events at Anzac Cove in Turkey.