Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence, attended commemorative events to mark the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, one of the most consequential military engagements of the First World War.
On the first day of her official visit, The Princess Royal attended a commemorative service at the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial. The memorial honoured the Ottoman soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign. During the service, Her Royal Highness delivered a heartfelt address reflecting on the immense sacrifices made and laid flowers at the memorial, paying tribute to the fallen on behalf of the United Kingdom.
Princess Anne attended a number of events over two days. (Royal Family)
Following the Turkish commemoration, The Princess Royal continued to the Morto Bay French National Cemetery, where she took part in the French remembrance ceremony. She laid a wreath at the Lantern Tower Memorial and placed flowers on individual graves of French soldiers who perished during the campaign, in a quiet gesture of solidarity and remembrance.
In her role as President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Her Royal Highness also visited the grave of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Doughty-Wylie, a British officer posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Gallipoli landings. Lieutenant Colonel Doughty-Wylie served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and in a moving gesture of unity, His Majesty The King — Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Welsh — provided a wreath card that was laid at the grave.
HRH visited the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial. (Royal Family)
Later in the day, The Princess Royal delivered a message from His Majesty The King during a United Kingdom-led memorial service at the Cape Helles Memorial, which honours British, Commonwealth, and Irish forces. The King, who personally visited Gallipoli in 2015 for the centenary commemorations, offered words of reflection and remembrance:
‘Today, as we mark the one hundred and tenth anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, I reflect on the memory of the dreadful losses suffered by so many during the battles. While the impact of these losses reverberates through history, we may take some solace in the warm friendships and deep alliances that have emerged from the desperation of Gallipoli, and which continue to endure after one hundred and ten years.’
‘Although I am very sadly unable to be with you today, my special thoughts and prayers are firmly with you all as we pay tribute to and honour the brave soldiers who fought and sacrificed their lives during the Gallipoli campaign.’
HRH conducted a two-day visit to commemorate the Gallipoli campaign. (Royal Family)
On the second day of her visit, Princess Anne took part in the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. The ceremony, held in the early hours of the morning on the rugged shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, marked a poignant moment of remembrance for the lives lost during World War I.
Standing before a crowd gathered in the dim pre-dawn light, Princess Anne delivered a moving address that reflected on the bravery, sacrifice, and lasting legacy of the ANZACs – Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers – who stormed the beaches of Gallipoli in 1915. She drew upon the words of three men who had experienced the brutal reality of the landing firsthand, including one of the very first to set foot on the beach.
She spoke of the extraordinary courage demonstrated that day, ‘one described the ‘pluck’ that ‘our boys’ had shown in the face of withering fire,” the Princess recounted. “Another could not forget the ‘terrible sight of hundreds of dead and wounded lying all along the beach’ – a haunting image etched into memory forever.”
Princess Anne took part in the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove. (Royal Family)
Princess Anne paid tribute not only to the soldiers who fought and died in the eight-month campaign, but also to the families they left behind, many of whom carried the emotional toll of war for generations.
“Their words have helped us understand and support the families left behind,” she said. “110 years later, we stand here at dawn to commemorate the Anzacs, remembering their bravery, courage and sacrifice.”
She also acknowledged the broader legacy of service among Australian and New Zealand forces, extending her tribute beyond Gallipoli: “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.”
