Anzac Day: Prince William lays wreath at Cenotaph, Kate Middleton attends service
The Duchess of Cambridge thrilled royal fans with her fashion statement at Westminster Abbey in honor of Australian and New Zealand veterans.
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The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise appearance alongside her husband as she arrived at Westminster Abbey to commemorate Anzac Day.
Catherine wore a white Alexander McQueen coat dress for the occasion, paired with a matching headband and black accessories.
The Duchess last wore the coat at Princess Charlotte’s christening.
The traditional church service featured an address by the Dean of Westminster, readings from the New Zealand and Australian high commissioners, prayers read by children of each country, and a Maori waiata performed by London-based Ngati Ranana London Maori Club.
The service came after Prince William attended a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on behalf of the Queen.
Around 400 former and serving military personnel and their families and members of veterans associations gathered at the Cenotaph for the wreath laying.
For Britain, Anzac Day commemorates Australian and New Zealand casualties and veterans of conflicts supporting British troops. It especially marks the anniversary of the landings in the Dardanelles on April 25, 1915 that would signal the start of the Gallipoli Campaign during the First World War.
Earlier, heir to the throne Prince Charles paid homage to the “defining mark” Anzacs left on the nation, likening their fight for freedoms to nations being oppressed today like Ukraine.
His reflection comes as across the world, Australians marked formally and informally the nation’s fallen in commemorations not seen for two years since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
Not surprisingly, the number of visitors were down at overseas services including Gallipoli where just over 500 people attended compared with the more than 10,000 of previous years. But ceremonies were no less poignant and in Gallipoli involved greater involvement and references from hosts Turkey who only gave permission for this year’s event go-ahead a month ago.
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Defence Department secretary Greg Moriarty were today in India for a service at the Delhi War Cemetery while ADF deputy chief Vice Admiral David Johnston officiated at Villers-Bretonneux in France.
In London, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla remembered the “gallant comradeship” of Australian and New Zealand troops as they said their thoughts were also on those currently in conflict.
“On this Anzac Day, my wife and I are thinking of all the courageous troops who endured so much in 1915 on the beaches and in the rugged hills of the Gallipoli Peninsula,” he said.
“One hundred and six years later, gallant comradeship remains a defining mark of the uniformed men and women of New Zealand and Australia.
“As we pause to reflect on the sacrifice of the Armed Services personnel of Australia and New Zealand in two World Wars, and in other conflicts and peacekeeping operations, our thoughts will also be with those communities around the world who are being torn apart by violence and conflict, and those who are fighting for freedom in the face of oppression.”
Last month, Prince Charles was the first royal to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine as he declared he stood in solidarity to all those resisting the brutal aggression.
In his remarks, General Campbell acknowledged the bravery and sacrifice of the Diggers.
“The service and sacrifice displayed by the Anzac’s at Gallipoli laid the foundations of the modern Australian Defence Force and shaped our national character,” he said, adding he reflected on all ADF since who had died including in the Middle East.
“The ADF has a long history of protecting Australia and its interests from those who may do us harm. Today, there are many ADF personnel deployed on operations or working overseas, who carry the legacy of those who have served before them and continue to uphold the Anzac spirit.”
In France, “several hundred” travelled to Villers-Bretonneux with locals vowing to “never cut ties” with the Australians who died about their village during the war. The town this year launched “Australia at your windows” with locals decorating their shop and home fronts with Aussie images and will resume the annual Anzac Day AFL game between composite Australians and French squads. The usually scrappy game and score line is always secondary to the post-match celebrations.
Originally published as Anzac Day: Prince William lays wreath at Cenotaph, Kate Middleton attends service
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