Princess Anne and the Duke of Gloucester are joining forces for an upcoming international trip to France next week. The occasion marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, a significant event from World War I. Princess Anne, serving as the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, will be accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester, who holds the position of Honorary President of the Somme Association.
Although it is uncommon to see Anne and the Duke together in official capacities, they will unite for this important commemoration. The Duke, also known as Prince Richard, is a cousin of the late Queen and shares King George V as a grandfather with Princess Anne. Born on August 26, 1944, in Northampton, the Duke was once fifth in line to the throne.
During their visit to the Thiepval Memorial in France, both royals will unveil UNESCO plaques as part of the anniversary events. The memorial site serves as a tribute to British and South African troops who perished between 1915 and March 1918. Following this, they will participate in a ceremony at Ulster Tower, honoring the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who fought during the Somme offensive.
Princess Anne will then visit the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, while the Duke of Gloucester will attend ceremonies at Guillemont Road Cemetery. This visit comes after a decade since King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, participated in the centenary commemorations of the battle in 2016.
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