Absent from the national remembrance ceremony at Whitehall today were Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence – who are currently in Australia, and participated in remembering ANZAC troops in Sydney.
The Princess Royal, joined by her husband, entered the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney alongside New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley, Governor-General Sam Mostyn and Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.
Princess Anne laid a wreath of coloured flowers and foliage (not poppies) at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney, in the Hall of Remembrance which honours fallen Australian and New Zealand troops from both World Wars.
This commemorative service came on the second of a four-day visit to Australia, to participate in celebrations for the centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Anne is their Colonel-in-Chief and has been since 1977.
Alongside the usual wreath-laying, The King’s sister, 75, also gave a reading, before signing the visitors’ book.
The royal couple then spent time with armed forces personnel, to hear about their experiences of service.
Afterwards, they travelled to the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, to attend a parade to mark the Centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.
Anne was dressed in her brown Corps uniform for this event, including the hat with folded brim with chin strap.
She said: ‘One hundred years of service, innovation and dedication is a remarkable milestone, and it is indeed a privilege, as your colonel in chief, to share in this occasion.
‘Over the past century, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals has played a vital role in every theatre of operations where our defence force has served.
‘From the trenches of the First World War to modern operations across the globe, your work has enabled communications, coordination and connectivity, often under the most challenging circumstances.’
On the final day of the visit, 11 November, Princess Anne and Sir Tim will attend a Remembrance Day Service and Capability Demonstration in Brisbane.
Anne’s last visit Down Under came in 2023.
She will also lay a wreath at Gallipoli Barracks to commemorate Armistice Day at the 7 Combat Signal Regiment Memorial before ending the visit to head to Singapore.
