Princess Kate led Anzac Day commemorations in London, paying tribute to the service and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand military personnel. Simultaneously, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle concluded a tour of Australia, including visits to significant memorials and public appearances.

Honouring ANZACs in London

Anzac Day, observed annually on April 25th, commemorates the landing at Gallipoli in 1915, a pivotal moment for Allied Forces. The day has since evolved to remember all Australians and New Zealanders who have died in conflicts.

Wreath-Laying and Westminster Abbey Service

Princess Kate participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and attended the parade at the Cenotaph in Westminster, alongside New Zealand High Commissioner Hamish Cooper. She then attended a service at Westminster Abbey, joined by veterans, Royal Family members, and political figures like Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel.

Princess Anne also participated, laying a wreath at Wellington Arch at 5am on Saturday. The Westminster Abbey service included a reading of John McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’ and a performance by the Ngati Ranana Maori Club London.

The Royal Family’s official X account acknowledged the day, stating it ‘honours the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.’ The tradition in London began in 1916 with King George V at Westminster Abbey.

Princess Kate wore a navy and white collared dress with sapphire jewellery. Her wreath bore the inscription: ‘In memory of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.’

Harry and Meghan’s Australian Tour

While Princess Kate commemorated Anzac Day in the UK, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently finished a four-day visit to Australia, beginning on April 14th. They also acknowledged the day through separate engagements.

Engagements and Appearances

Meghan Markle appeared on the Australian cooking show, Masterchef, and attended a VIP event in Sydney priced at £1,700 per person. She also hosted a ‘Her Best Life Retreat’ for women, with tickets costing around $3,200.

The Duchess of Sussex promoted her fashion choices through OneOff, a fashion platform in which she has invested. Prince Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, engaging with Indigenous veterans and attending an Invictus Australia reception.

He also participated in the daily Last Post Ceremony, which includes the national anthem, a piper’s lament, a soldier’s story, and the Last Post bugle call. Prince Harry, a veteran of ten years in the British Army with two tours in Afghanistan, proudly wore his service medals.