William, Kate send Anzac biscuits in touching tribute, Princess Anne joins Dawn Service

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have led royal Anzac tributes with a heartwarming message, while Princess Anne has joined the first of two commemorative services in London.

Princess Anne has represented the Royal Family at the first of two Anzac Day services in London, starting with the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Wellington Arch in Hyde Park.

Anne laid a wreath at the Australian and New Zealand War Memorials on behalf of her family, and signed a Book of Remembrance.

On Sunday, local time, Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence then visited Westminster Abbey for the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal, lays a wreath at the Australian War Memorial during a Dawn Service to commemorate Anzac Day at Wellington Arch in London. Picture: Jonathan Brady/POOL/AFP

Princess Anne, Princess Royal, lays a wreath during a Dawn Service to commemorate Anzac Day at the New Zealand war memorial, Wellington Arch in London. Picture: AFP

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Wellington Arch, on behalf of The Royal Family. Picture: Twitter

Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (L) attend the annual Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. Picture: Getty Images

George Brandis, Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, said in a tweet it was a “solemn Dawn Service completed here in London. With crowds not possible, we’ve created a virtual commemoration for our community.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, George Brandis, posted this picture on Twitter, saying: “A solemn Dawn Service completed here in London. With crowds not possible, we’ve created a virtual commemoration for our community.” Picture: Twitter/@AusHCUK

The Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, again with restricted numbers and invited representatives only in attendance, took place in accordance with the Abbey’s COVID-19 plans.

WILLIAM, KATE SEND ANZAC BISCUITS IN TOUCHING TRIBUTE

Prince William has paid a heartwarming tribute to the “indomitable spirit” of Australian and New Zealand soldiers as he marked Anzac Day with a batch of biscuits.

William led Anzac tributes from the royal family royal tributes.

A video posted to the Kensington Royal social media accounts showed the Duke of Cambridge signing a typed note and sealing it into an envelope.

The note read, the post said: “This Anzac Day, Catherine and I join Australians and New Zealanders across the world to remember and honour the service men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have posted a heartwarming tribute for Anzac Day. Picture: AFP

“Though many will still be unable to come together in person this year, we are heartened in the knowledge that Australians and New Zealanders will continue to commemorate those who have given so much for our freedoms.”

The video then shows a messenger taking the note, along with a batch of Anzac biscuits in cellophane wrapping, on foot from Kensington Palace and walking through London to

New Zealand House where a uniformed staffer greets the messenger at the front door.

The messenger then delivers the same note and parcel to Australia House in Holborn.

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX REMEMBERS ANZACS

One hundred and three years ago this morning, the windows of Villers-Bretonneux were ragged holes in houses battered by shellfire and bullets — the aftermath of a monumental night battle in which Anzac soldiers swept through the small but strategically vital town, clearing it of Germans and marking their place in history.

Today, those windows are joyously festooned with Australian flags, cut-out paper platypuses and kangaroos, hand-drawn pictures of the Lucky Country and other symbols of Australiana.

“Dear Australia” … eight-year-old Clément is among local children sending a salute to the Anzacs from France. Picture: Val de Somme Tourism Board

The artworks — by enthusiastic children and adults, with some official touches on public buildings — mark a heartfelt local desire to reach out to Australia in a year when, because of COVID, the usual April 25 hordes of Aussie visitors will not be in Villers-Bretonneux or at the nearby Australian National Memorial and Sir John Monash Centre.

“Australia At Your Windows” tributes are materialising in communities around the Val de Somme region, the epicentre of some of the worst fighting in World War One.

As part of the project, launched by local tourism officials, inhabitants are sending “Dear Australia” letters from lockdown to Australian RSLs, to express their solidarity in this second year of a modern global challenge.

“Australia will be there” … part of the letter from Jacques, aged 91.

“Above all, do not let Anzac Day pass without showing our friendship to our Australian friends,” writes 91-year-old Jacques.

He mentions that he was a student at the Victoria school in Villers-Bretonneux, rebuilt with donations from Down Under after the war, and where a large sign urges pupils every day to “Never Forget Australia”.

Jacques was at the school during World War Two, when France was occupied again by the old enemy. The stonework at the Australian National Memorial, just outside town, still bears bullet scars from 1940 when it become, once more, a battlefield.

He writes with emotion about the bravery and sacrifice of the Anzacs in 1918, ending his letter with the salute “Australia will be there.”

After the battle … the ruins of Villers-Bretonneux in May 1918. Picture: The Australian War Memorial

A couple, Gerard and Regine, tell in their letter how they were inspired to explore Australia’s WW1 story after attending two Anzac Day services.

“We were very impressed,” they write, inviting any potential Australian penpals to get in touch. “We don’t forget the generosity and courage of the soldiers coming from your country to protect our lives and freedom.”

Many of the letters are from schoolchildren, who also enclose drawings. In addition to Villers-Bretonneux, the salutes come from many other places also marked in Anzac legend — like the village of Le Hamel, where Australia’s Sir John Monash engineered a stunning victory with innovative tactics combining infantry, tanks, artillery and air force and two of his men earned the Victoria Cross.

Today … one of many houses around Villers-Bretonneux, Le Hamel and other communities marking “Australia At Your Windows”.

Initial bundles of letters have been sent to RSLs in Cobargo, Vic; Forestville, NSW; and Mannum and Payneham in SA. More are on the way, and officials in France and Australia expect penpal connections — and, when post-lockdown travel resumes, perhaps in-person friendships — may be forged as a result.

This year, the usual Anzac Day services in the area are much reduced, with Australia’s ambassador to France Gillian Bird expected to join just a handful of officials at the Memorial.

Never forget … the town hall at Le Hamel, site of another Australian victory.

“Australia and France have a proud history of friendship, one that was forged on the battlefields of the Western Front during the First World War,” said Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Darren Chester.

“Throughout the decades, in wars and on peacekeeping operations this bond between our countries has strengthened, and we can see this again on display through these letters and drawings. Local children and residents are sending a message to Australian veterans — that they will not forget them.”

Australian Ambassador to France, H.E. Ms Gillian Bird told News Corp: “To see how the local French people in the towns and villages along the Australian Remembrance Trail are commemorating Anzac Day this year is especially heart-warming given the difficulties they have endured over the past year with the pandemic. These initiatives and the enthusiasm they have inspired prove that the Franco-Australian relationship has never been stronger. “

Australians unable to travel to France this year are invited to visit Villers-Bretonneux, Le Hamel and other Anzac sites in virtual reality with the Anzac360 app. Available for most devices, headsets and on YouTube.