On Monday, Prince William laid a wreath of poppies, after attending a poignant service at The Cenotaph war memorial, in London, England. He laid the poppies on behalf of 96-year old Queen Elizabeth II. His grandmother is away from the city, recuperating due to heath problems.

Anzac Day is a commemoration of the first major battle with participation of Australia and New Zealand during World War I. The Anzac forces were honored since the first anniversary of the landing of the troops in 1916, at Gallipoli. At that time King George V had attended the service at Westminster Abbey. Anzac stands for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.” All the soldiers were volunteers.

This year, Prince William had headed to Westminster Abbey after leaving the war memorial for the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at the Abbey. He was joined by Kate Middleton, in a surprise appearance. The royal couple wore red poppy pins. The red poppy has been used as a symbol to honor military who have died in service, since 1921.

The poppy is used as a symbol to honor soldiers of World War I, as per a poem “In Flanders Fields” written by John McCrae.

Earlier on Monday, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester was at the Dawn Service at the New Zealand Memorial. The Queen’s cousin attended the service held at Hyde Park Corner, in London.

Every year, members of the royal family attend services on Anzac day, to honor those who volunteered their lives for the nation. The service at Westminster Abbey was attended by Princess Anne in 2021.

Earlier Prince Harry and Kate Middleton attended the service in 2019, as Meghan Markle was nearing the end of her pregnancy with her first child, so she couldn’t attend. In 2020, the service was canceled as it was the peak of COVID in the nation.

(Photo/Image: Facebook Prince William, Duke of Cambridge)