Prince Charles to attend Anzac Day services in France
PRINCE Charles will attend Anzac Day services in France on behalf of the Queen as he takes on more royal duties in preparation for becoming king.
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PRINCE Charles will attend Anzac Day services in France on behalf of the Queen as he takes on more royal duties in preparation for becoming King.
In a statement released by Clarence House on Tuesday, it was announced that Charles will attend commemorations at the Australian National Memorial, near Villers-Bretonneux in France on Anzac Day alongside Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe will also be in attendance.
The service marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux.
“His Royal Highness will observe the Spirit of Place ceremony, which will include a reading of the roll of honour of soldiers who died in 1918 and an indigenous musical performance. A Dawn Service will follow, during which His Royal Highness will deliver a reading and lay the first wreath of the official wreath laying ceremony,” said the Clarence House statement.
“His Royal Highness will proceed to an official breakfast to meet with representatives from 17 invited nations who fought on the Western Front. Finally, His Royal Highness will visit the newly opened Sir John Monash Centre to tour the cutting edge multimedia exhibition, which aims to tell Australia on the Western Front during the First World War.”
Prince Charles has been taking on more public duties in recent months as the Queen, who turns 92 in April, starts to hand over responsibilities to her heir.
Last week he delivered the royal family’s Easter message for the first time ever. He is also visiting the Gold Coast this week with his wife Camilla this week for the Commonwealth Games.
The announcement also comes after former prime minister Paul Keating caused controversy this week when he claimed that Charles believes Australia should sever its ties with the monarchy of Great Britain and become a republic.
The comments infuriated another former prime minister — Tony Abbott — who accused Mr Keating of “putting words” in Prince Charles’ mouth.
About 8000 people are expected to gather for the Anzac Day commemoration in France.