Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and sister of King Charles III, represented the United Kingdom at a dawn ceremony Friday on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula marking the 110th anniversary of a World War I battle, The Associated Press reported.
The Princess is currently on a two-day visit to Gallipoli where she is attending a number of events to remember the fallen from all nations involved in the campaign. pic.twitter.com/Ghq7KHOurE
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 24, 2025
The Gallipoli campaign is seen as a defining moment in the histories of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.
Marked by heavy casualties on both sides, the campaign was a disastrous defeat for the allies against the then-Ottoman Empire backed by Germany. Although the battle later helped cement friendship among the three countries, it remains a highly sensitive subject in Australia and New Zealand.
The event honored Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died during the ill-fated 1915 campaign.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley also participated in the ceremony, which included prayers and wreath-laying. Princess Anne read from soldiers’ letters and paid tribute to those who fought on all sides.