Kate Shines as She Leads Anzac Day Service at Westminster: A Royal Tribute to Heroes

The Princess of Wales graced the Anzac Day parade today with her presence, honoring the servicemen of Australia and New Zealand.

Observed annually on April 25, Anzac Day commemorates the 1915 landing of Allied Forces at Gallipoli in Turkey. This day is dedicated to remembering all Australians and New Zealanders who have lost their lives in military conflicts.

This morning, Princess Kate participated in the wreath-laying ceremony and parade at the Cenotaph in Westminster, standing alongside New Zealand’s High Commissioner, Hamish Cooper.

Following this, the Duchess attended a service at Westminster Abbey. The event was attended by veterans, members of the Royal Family, and political figures, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel.

The Duchess then visited Westminster Abbey, where a service attended by veterans, Royals and politicians including Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel was held. 

The service in London this year was also attended by Princess Anne, who laid a wreath at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, at 5am on Saturday morning. 

The event also heard a reading of John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields and performances by members of the Ngati Ranana Maori Club London. 

The Royal Family posted on X: ‘Today is #ANZACDay – which honours the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.’ 

Princess Kate looked radiant as she led the congregation at Westminster Abbey this afternoon

Princess Kate attended the wreath laying and parade service at the Cenotaph as part of Anzac Day commemorations on Saturday 

She paid her respects alongside the High Commissioner for New Zealand Hamish Cooper (pictured left) 

The Princess of Wales wore a tailored navy and white collared dress paired with sapphire jewellery 

Kate laid a wreath at the Cenotaph to commemorate Australian and New Zealand servicemen

The wreath laid by Kate had a personal inscription from the Princess, reading: ‘In memory of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom’

Kate smiled as she arrived at Westminster this afternoon for the annual service 

Pictured: Turkish Ambassador to the UK Koray Ertas leading service members during wreath laying and parade service

Crowds gathered to pay their respects in central London on Saturday morning

Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Priti Patel attended the service at Westminster Abbey

Pictured: High Commissioner for Australia, Jay Weatherill, lay a wreath during the service on Saturday afternoon 

Kate pictured at the Westminster Abbey Service 

Anzac Day has been observed in London since King George V attended the first service at Westminster Abbey in 1916 to mark the anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli. 

Anzac Day ceremonies were held in cities across Australia, the nation which Harry and Meghan visited on a whistlestop tour this month. 

The pair’s four-day trip, beginning on April 14 and ending on Wednesday, included an appearance by Meghan on Australia’s Masterchef programme and a £1,700-per-person VIP ‘meet and greet’ in Sydney. 

Meghan spent approximately two hours with women as part of a ‘Her Best Life Retreat’, which cost some $3,200 a ticket. 

The Duchess of Sussex promoted her outfits worn during the trip on the platform OneOff, a company she also invests in. 

She put the details of her wardrobe online following a deal with the AI-powered fashion website. 

On the first day of the trip, during a visit to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, Meghan wore a $1,250 (£922) ‘Priscilla’ dress from local designer Karen Gee, with $780 (£575) ‘Puffy Hearts’ stud earrings by Real Fine Studio and $120 (£88) ‘Iridescent’ Christian Dior leather pumps. All three were promoted on OneOff with links. 

Prince Harry meanwhile visited Canberra during the trip to attend the Australian War Memorial, where he met Indigenous veterans, went to an Invictus Australia reception and participated in the daily Last Post Ceremony. 

Prince Harry laid a wreath while attending the Australian War Memorial on April 15 during a four-day tour to the country with Meghan 

Meghan visited a children’s hospital and made a guest appearance on an episode of Australia’s Masterchef

Harry and Meghan’s trip to Australia was met with criticism by some over its purpose and costs

The Last Post Ceremony is held daily at 4.30pm at the War Memorial to remember those on the Honour Roll. 

It includes the national anthem, a piper’s lament, a soldier’s story, and the Last Post bugle call.

Prince Harry attended the ceremony and then toured some exhibitions inside, which detail Australia’s war history and those who sacrificed for their country. 

The prince, who served in the British Army for ten years and completed two tours in Afghanistan, wore his service medals during the visit.