Prince William attended an Anzac Day service in London to commemorate the brave soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who died at Gallipoli in World War I.
The heir to the British throne attended a sombre Dawn Service in London’s Hyde Park on Tuesday.
According to the program, the Dawn Service at Wellington Arch included readings and the traditional commemorations, including a rendition of the Last Post, a moment of silence and the singing of the national anthems.
William was accompanied to the service by Stephen Smith and Phil Goff, the high commissioners in the United Kingdom from Australia and New Zealand respectively.
At one point, William was seen laying a wreath in respect to the soldiers.
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ official twitter account also tweeted in remembrance to the fallen soldiers.
“Remembering Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice,” the caption read.
“Lest we forget.”
As head of state of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, the British royal family marks Anzac Day each year by attending a service in London.
The first British Monarch to commemorate Anzac Day was King George V, who attended the first service at Westminster Abbey with his wife Queen Mary in 1916.
That day marked the very first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli on April 25 in 1915.
Allied deaths during the Gallipoli campaign totalled over 56,000, including about 8,709 soldiers from Australia and 2,721 from New Zealand.
The Dawn Service in Hyde Park will be followed by a second commemoration at Westminster Abbey at midday (local time), which is expected to be attended by the Duke of Gloucester on behalf of the King.
The Duke is planned to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the traditional place for paying tribute to deceased servicemen and women, before attending the service at Westminster.
The Anzac service will be the final formal event to be held at the historic abbey before it closes to prepare for the coronation of Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6.
Source: skynews.com.au
