Kensington Palace confirms Catherine will join forces with Princess Anne next week

Dorothy Reddin
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:07:50 +0000

Kensington Palace has confirmed the Princess of Wales will join forces with Princess Anne next week.

The two senior members of the Royal Family will participate in Anzac Day commemorations across London on Saturday, April 25.

The Princess Royal is set to attend the Dawn Service held at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, while Catherine will take part in ceremonies later in the morning.

Catherine will be present at the Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade at the Cenotaph, where she will place a wreath representing King Charles.

She will subsequently attend a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

Both the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions have organised the events marking this significant day of remembrance.

London has hosted Anzac Day observances for over a century, with the tradition beginning when King George V attended the inaugural Westminster Abbey service in 1916.

That first ceremony marked the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, establishing a lasting connection between the capital and the Antipodean nations.

Over the decades, these London services have evolved into a meaningful occasion for honouring Australians and New Zealanders who made the ultimate sacrifice in conflict.

The commemorations also serve to recognise all those from both countries who have served in the armed forces.

In Australia and New Zealand, Anzac Day is observed as a public holiday, with memorial events taking place at numerous locations.

The Dawn Service at Wellington Arch is expected to run for around 45 minutes, featuring readings, the Last Post, a period of silence, reveille and the national anthems of both nations, concluding with the laying of wreaths.

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The Westminster Abbey service will follow traditional church proceedings, with the Dean of Westminster delivering an address.

High Commissioners from New Zealand and Australia will provide readings, whilst children from each nation will recite prayers.

A distinctive element of the service will be a Māori waiata performed by Ngāti Rānana, a London-based group, adding a cultural dimension to the commemorations.