Anzac Day: Prince William leads UK remembrance

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath of fresh poppies in memory of the Anzacs at a moving Dawn Service in central London.

Prince William lays a wreath during the Dawn Service in London. Picture: Getty Images

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath of fresh poppies in memory of the Anzacs at a moving Dawn Service in central London as nearly a thousand people paid their respects in near-freezing conditions.

As the sun rose over Hyde Park Corner, Prince William, 40, laid the wreath in front of the Wellington Arch. It had an accompanying handwritten note, which said: “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our ­freedom.”

His presence was a sign that King Charles is determined to ­acknowledge Australia and other Commonwealth nations during his reign.

This was one of the final duties carried out by William, who is also Colonel of the Welsh Guards, ­before the May 6 coronation at Westminster Abbey, where he will pay homage to the King on behalf of all dukes, kneeling and then kissing the King’s right cheek and pledging to be his “liegeman of life and limb”.

Stephen Smith, the high commissioner for Australia who also authored the Defence Strategic Review which was made public earlier this week, said in his address that Anzac Day resonated in the present day because of the inspiration drawn from the ­sacrifice.

He said Australian values such as not leaving behind the weak or the vulnerable, humour in the face of adversity, a spirit of defiance, egalitarian outlook, courage against the odds and a fair go for all provided a sense of optimism about what could be achieved.

Despite being in the centre of London, there was complete ­silence during The Ode, the playing of the Last Post by Lance Corporal Ben Smith from the band of the Welsh Guards and prayers by Father Martin Hislop from St Luke’s Church in Kingston Upon Thames.

Some of the many wreaths laid by agents-general, Australian ­Defence Force organisations and organisations such as London Legacy, the Imperial War Museum, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Cadet Forces, were then placed at an adjacent monument commemorating more than 101,000 Australian man and women who gave their lives in the world wars.

Commander John Relyea, ­assistant adviser in London for the Royal Australian Navy, said 300 VIPs were in attendance for the Dawn Service, alongside a crowd of more than 500 mainly Australians and New Zealanders.

“It was a great honour to have Prince William come along and lead the service today and also the number of the crowd just shows the support here for Anzac Day in London for Australians and New Zealanders,’’ Commander Relyea said.