Princess Anne was not in attendance at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Central London today, as she is currently on a tour of Australia and Singapore
King Charles III led the nation and the Royal Family in a poignant Remembrance Sunday service today. Alongside Prince William, he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Central London and spearheaded the annual two-minute silence to honour those who have fallen in service of their country.
Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales were also present, observing the solemn ceremony from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. However, viewers at home would have noticed the absence of a key Royal figure usually seen laying a wreath at the service.
Princess Anne was notably absent from the national war memorial on Whitehall, where her brothers, the King and Prince Edward, were present. Her absence is due to her current tour of Australia and Singapore with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
Despite being away, she paid her respects earlier today by attending a Remembrance Service and laying a wreath at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney. This visit was part of her celebrations marking the Centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, where she serves as Colonel-in-Chief.
The news of Princess Anne’s trip to Australia was revealed a few weeks ago. Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement: “The Princess will undertake a series of military engagements in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane during the four-day visit to commemorate the centenary. As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Her Royal Highness will lay a wreath at the Sydney War Cemetery.”, reports the Mirror.
Princess Anne has had a long-standing and esteemed relationship with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, holding the position of Colonel-in-Chief since 1977. The Royal Australian Corps of Signals is a group of soldiers who are technical specialists, providing communications, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities to support military operations.
The Princess has made over 20 trips to Australia, with her most recent visit to the Commonwealth country taking place in 2022, coinciding with the anniversary of her father, Prince Philip’s death. She officially opened the Sydney Royal Easter Show, marking the bicentenary of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth in her role as patron.
Arriving in a horse-drawn carriage, Anne delivered a speech at the official opening ceremony – her first on Australian soil – expressing gratitude to the farming community for their unity despite numerous challenges.
Next week, Anne will journey to Singapore for two days of engagements to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Singapore.
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