Hundreds of people pressed against a fence to watch as the future Queen commemorated the 1915 Gallipoli landing of Australian and New Zealand troops in World War 1. A female sailor in a New Zealand naval uniform handed the princess a wreath, which she placed at the foot of the national war memorial on Whitehall on behalf of King Charles.
The ring of poppies with white flowers depicting the feathers of the Prince of Wales’ crest had a note signed by Catherine and William that read: “In memory of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom”.
According to Hello! magazine, it is a rare instance when the princess signs with her name first before her husband, Prince William and it’s likely down to the fact that she was there on behalf of the Wales family.
The outlet noted it was also interesting how Catherine signed first instead of the King, on whose behalf she was laying the wreath.
The future Queen wore a New Zealand Anzac remembrance poppy and joined a commemoration and thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey on Saturday afternoon.
She attended the church service, which included an address from the Very Reverend Joanne Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans, readings from the New Zealand and Australian high commissioners, prayers from children from each country, and a traditional waiata sung by London-based Maori culture group Ngati Ranana.
After the service, the princess met the children who had presented wreaths to the high commissioners.
The Gallipoli campaign, part of a British-led effort to defeat the Ottoman Empire, aimed to secure a naval route through the Dardanelles from the Mediterranean Sea to Constantinople, now Istanbul, in Turkey. More than 100,000 troops died in the failed campaign that lasted into 1916.
Earlier on Saturday, the Princess Royal attended a dawn service at Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner in London.
Organised by the New Zealand and Australian high commissions, Anne arrived for the Anzac service shortly before it started at 5am.