The Duchess of Edinburgh represented King Charles at Anzac Day commemorations in London today, attending a dawn service at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.
Dressed in all black, Sophie looked sombre as she participated in the early morning ceremony marking the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand forces.
The royal engagement comes as part of annual Anzac Day events held across the capital to honour the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
The dawn service at Hyde Park Corner marked the beginning of a day of commemorative events for the Duchess, who stepped in for the King at this poignant occasion.
Duchess of Edinburgh wakes up before dawn for major engagement
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During the dawn service, the Duchess laid a wreath to honour the fallen servicemen and women.
Her schedule for the day includes further commemorative duties across London.
The Duchess will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph later today.
She will then participate in a service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is commemorating Anzac Day
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These appearances form part of the traditional Anzac Day observances held annually in the capital.
The Duchess’s representation of the King at these significant events highlights the royal family’s continued commitment to honouring the Anzac legacy.
The Duchess was joined at the dawn service by Stephen Smith, Australia’s High Commissioner, and Chris Seed, acting High Commissioner for New Zealand.
Fellow countrymen and women from Australia and New Zealand also gathered at Hyde Park Corner for the solemn occasion.
The Duchess of Edinburgh laying a wreath for the poignant event
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The Duchess of Edinburgh will be attending other events throughout the day
PA
Anzac Day commemorations have a long history in London, dating back to 1916.
The first anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, Turkey, was marked with a service at Westminster Abbey attended by King George V.
Since then, the capital has maintained this tradition of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand forces who served during the First World War and subsequent conflicts.
