The Duchess of Edinburgh stood in for King Charles during a solemn dawn service in London this morning to mark Anzac Day, paying tribute to the valour and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand forces.
Dressed in a black ensemble, Duchess Sophie appeared composed and reflective as she honoured the fallen at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner. Her attendance highlighted the Royal Family’s enduring commitment to remembering Commonwealth contributions in wartime.
The Duchess laid a wreath during the early morning service, standing alongside Stephen Smith, Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK, and Chris Seed, New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner. The ceremony drew a respectful crowd of expats, military personnel, and dignitaries.
Sophie is also set to attend a second wreath-laying at the Cenotaph, followed by a service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey later today.
Anzac Day, commemorated each 25th April, marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 1915. Since 1916, London has hosted memorial events to honour those from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought and died during the First World War. King George V himself attended the inaugural Westminster Abbey service.
These ceremonies have since become a cornerstone for both nations’ communities in the UK — a time to reflect, remember, and honour.
Meanwhile, the Princess Royal attended a moving dawn service in north-west Turkey, paying tribute at the very site where Anzac troops first came ashore. Laying a wreath on the Gallipoli coastline, Princess Anne read aloud the harrowing recollections of three soldiers who witnessed the horrors first-hand.
One described the “pluck” shown by the troops, another recalled “the terrible sight of hundreds of dead and wounded lying all along the beach – I shall never forget it.”
Anne honoured the immense cost of the eight-month-long Gallipoli campaign, which profoundly affected thousands of lives across Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and France.
“Their words have helped us understand and support families left behind. 110 years later, we stand here at dawn to commemorate the Anzacs, remembering their bravery, courage and sacrifice.
We also remember all Australian and New Zealand men and women who since that day have served their country in wars, conflicts and peace missions. Their service is not forgotten, we will remember them.”
Anzac Day commemorates the sacrifice of troops from Australia and New Zealand who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 as part of a joint Allied operation. The campaign aimed to seize control of the Dardanelles Strait, a strategic waterway linking the Aegean and Black Seas.
The mission failed. Over 100,000 soldiers lost their lives, with the operation becoming one of the war’s most devastating efforts. Despite the loss, the courage displayed by Anzac forces forged a lasting legacy of resilience and unity among the Commonwealth nations.
Today’s services, both in London and Gallipoli, served as poignant reminders of the human cost of war. From Hyde Park Corner to Turkey’s shores, the bravery of those who served — and the families who remember them — remains deeply respected.
As Duchess Sophie and Princess Anne led tributes in their respective ceremonies, their presence reinforced the Royal Family’s ongoing commitment to honouring the Anzac legacy.
