On Anzac Day, the Princess of Wales honored the fallen by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in a solemn ceremony in Central London. This annual event commemorates the 1915 Gallipoli landing of Australian and New Zealand troops during World War I. Kate, attending without Prince William, wore a navy coat adorned with a poppy and a hat while paying her respects at the national war memorial.
During the ceremony, a woman in New Zealand military uniform presented the princess with a wreath, which she placed at the base of the national war memorial on Whitehall. The wreath, accompanied by a note from Catherine and William, paid tribute to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom. High commissioners for New Zealand and Australia then laid their wreaths in succession.
Reverend Dr. Lyndon Drake recited a passage from The Fallen by poet Laurence Binyon, followed by a performance of the last post by a Royal Marines Portsmouth Road Band trumpeter. A moment of silence was observed, and attendees, including Kate, sang the hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past before military personnel marched off Whitehall.
After the wreath-laying ceremony, the princess joined a service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. The service featured an address by the Very Reverend Joanne Kelly-Moore, readings by the high commissioners of New Zealand and Australia, children’s prayers from both countries, and a traditional Maori waiata performed by the group Ngati Ranana.
In her address, the dean emphasized the importance of honoring the courage of past and present service members and urged attendees to embody courage in their daily lives. Kate later met children who presented wreaths to the high commissioners, receiving warm feedback for her friendly demeanor.
Princess Anne also marked Anzac Day by attending a dawn service at Wellington Arch on Hyde Park Corner. The ceremony, organized by the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions, included readings, a wreath-laying, and the national anthems of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Similar services took place across New Zealand, Australia, and Gallipoli.
Anzac Day, observed on April 25, commemorates the Gallipoli landings that marked the beginning of World War I. Despite the campaign’s tragic outcome, it symbolizes the enduring spirit of courage, endurance, and camaraderie displayed by the Anzac troops.
