Kate Middleton and Princess Anne stepped out today on behalf of King Charles to honor Australian and New Zealand service members on Anzac Day. Anzac Day is held every year on April 25th.
Anzac Day Was First Established in Turkey in 1915 to Mark the Anniversary of the Landing of the Allied Forces During World War I
According to the Daily Mail, “Anzac Day was first established to mark the anniversary of the landing of Allied Forces at dawn on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915.”
The landing took place during World War I. Anzac Day honors those who lost their lives in service. Anzac Day is a holiday in Australia and New Zealand, where King Charles is head of state.
Many members of the royal family gather each year for events commemorating the holiday. The Princess of Wales attended a wreath laying and parade at the Cenotaph in Westminster.
Princess Kate, who looked elegant and sophisticated as always, wore a bespoke Alexander McQueen navy-and-white coat dress.
She accessorized with a pair of sapphire drop earrings that had previously belonged to the late Princess Diana.
The Princess also wore a matching navy Jane Taylor London hat and had pinned a crimson poppy to her coat. She was at the event for the first time as a working royal.
Kate shared a lovely moment after the service with a serving mother who attended with her two young sons. She shook their hands and spoke with them for a while.
The Daily Mail explains, “Anzac Day has been observed in London since King George V attended the first service at Westminster Abbey in 1916 to mark the landings at Gallipoli.”
The event featured the reading of a poem by John McCrae, the Last Post, and the playing of national anthems. The wreath-laying ceremony took place at the conclusion of the event.
Kate Attended the Event for the First Time as a Working Royal
The Cenotaph is a national war memorial. Cenotaph means “empty tomb.” It is the place where the British royal family holds Remembrance Day in November.
Afterward, Princess Catherine attended the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, the same church where she and Prince William were wed in April 2011.
Anzac Day ceremonies were also held in Australia, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently visiting. Harry visited Canberra during their stay, where they attended the Australian War Memorial.
The Duke of Sussex also attended an Invictus Australia reception and participated in the Last Post Ceremony, an Indigenous smoking ceremony. Afterward, he checked some exhibitions inside.
The exhibitions focused on recent military operations and honored fallen service members. He met with veterans and laid a wreath at the memorial.
Prince Harry wore his military medals, having served in the British Army for 10 years and completed 2 tours of Afghanistan.
Harry and Meghan’s four-day trip included a Weekend Retreat in Sydney, where fans paid up to $3,000 per ticket to meet and take photos with Meghan.
The high ticket prices and security measures sparked much debate and criticism. Meghan only stayed at the Weekend Retreat for two hours, when guests had expected to spend a full weekend with her.
Earlier in the week, Princess Kate attended a celebration, held by King Charles, for what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday.
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