Princess Royal remembers brave Anzacs in their own words at Gallipoli
In a message on social media Charles, who attended the dawn service in Gallipoli on Anzac Day in 2005 and 2015, said he wanted to pay a special tribute to Australian and New Zealand veterans, and those who are on active service today.
'Through the generations, you have continued to enact the indomitable spirit of Anzac – forged in terrible conflict and preserved in peace – of courage, mateship and sacrifice,' he said.
The Princess Royal delivers a speech during the 'Spirit of Place' ceremony and dawn memorial service at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula (Yui Mok/PA)
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Edinburgh will take part in the annual Anzac Day commemorations held in London, joining Australians and New Zealanders for a dawn service at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph and later a Westminster Abbey service of commemoration and thanksgiving.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Sam Mostyn were among crowds who travelled from the southern hemisphere for the dawn service.
During the service at Anzac Cove, Anne reflected on the words of three men who were involved in the assault, including one of the first to land on the beach, and described the 'pluck' that 'our boys' had shown, while another described the 'terrible sight of hundreds of dead and wounded lying all along the beach – I shall never forget it'.
Troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – shortened to Anzac – landed on the western shore of the Gallipoli peninsula on April 25 1915 (Yui Mok/PA)
She described an eight month long campaign which cost and changed the lives of tens of thousands of Australian, New Zealand, British and French soldiers.
'Their words have helped us understand and support families left behind,' she said.
'110 years later, we stand here at dawn to commemorate the Anzacs, remembering their bravery, courage and sacrifice.
'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.'
In his address, Mr Luxon described Gallipoli as a name 'etched into New Zealand's national identity'.
'It represents not only this shore and these hills, but the valour that was shown here on both sides, the terrible sacrifice and the utter tragedy of war,' he said.
'Some 16,000 Kiwis served here. At that time we were a nation of just a million people. Our contribution as a small nation at the bottom of the world was disproportionate.
'What happened here scarred generations of New Zealanders. While we remain proud of those who serve, we do not glorify what happened here, we know too much to do that, instead we acknowledge the courage and the tenacity of the Anzacs, and we respect of the valour of the Ottoman Turks who resisted them.'
The Princess Royal attended an event at the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park on Thursday (Yui Mok/PA)
More than 100,000 troops died in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War by the UK and allies to capture the Dardanelles Strait.
The assault in 1915 was intended to wound the then Ottoman Empire and cut off a key connecting water route between the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, a move which would have also aided Russia.
The Princess Royal talks to Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon at a reception, hosted by Jill Morris, ambassador to the Republic of Turkey (Yui Mok/PA)
Anne attended services across Gallipoli on Thursday and laid wreaths for the fallen of several nationalities, including the UK and Ireland, France and Turkey.
Later she met Mr Luxon as well as senior political figures and diplomats during a reception at the Kolin Hotel in Canakkale.
During speeches, Anne hailed Turkish friends and emphasised the importance of passing on the tradition of remembering those who have fallen in war.
The Princess Royal walks beside the graves of Turkish soldiers in the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park (Yui Mok/PA)
She quoted Turkish hero Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, saying: 'There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side in this country of ours.
'You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this island, they have become our sons as well.'
Anne described words such as these as having 'paved the way for ferocious battles that took place on this land to be replaced by long-lasting friendships and strong alliances that we must take forward to the future'.
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