Duchess of Cambridge Makes Surprise Appearance at Anzac Day Remembrance

The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, joined her husband Prince William in paying tribute to Australian and New Zealand warriors who died in both world wars on Monday.

The event was held at the Westminster Abbey Commemoration Service, where hundreds of guests from Australia and New Zealand's communities in the UK gathered to remember the fallen soldiers.

The Duke and Duchess attended the service hosted by the Dean of Westminster on behalf of the Queen, leaving their three children at home for the occasion.

The Duchess's presence at the service was only announced on Monday morning, making her appearance a surprise to many.

Earlier in the day, Prince William attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on behalf of the Queen.

According to the Telegraph, the Duchess had been expected to miss the service, but at the last minute, it was announced she would be joining William at the Abbey after wreath-laying.

For the occasion, the Duchess wore a bright white knee-length dress coat designed by Alexander McQueen, featuring a nipped-in waist and V-neck collar.

She paired the dress with a coordinating headband and finished off her monochrome look with a black suede clutch and black suede pumps.

Catherine swept her brunette locks behind her shoulders for the occasion, donning the smart white headband with a trendy black bow at the back.

She also wore Diana Collingwood earrings for the service.

The highlight of the Duchess's outfit was the dress, a favourite of hers, which she has worn on multiple occasions in the past.

This shows her continued efforts to opt for sustainable choices by recycling outfits when in the public eye.

She wore the designer coat dress in 2015 to the christening of her second child, Princess Charlotte, at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham.

The Duchess has since worn the dress on four other occasions, including this Anzac Day on April 25, so it's fairly safe to say that it's one of her favoured styles.

She re-wore the look in July 2016 for Trooping the Colour, for Trooping the Colour celebrations in London.

In July 2017, while attending a commemorations ceremony in Belgium, she wore a pale yellow version in 2018 to the wedding of her brother-in-law, Prince Harry, to Meghan Markle, and finally had a pale blue version made to wear to the Royal Air Force's 100th birthday service in July 2018.

Today's event kicked off as the Duke of Gloucester attended the dawn service at the New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park, which included readings and the last post sounded by a bugler.

Earlier in the day, Prince William laid the wreath on behalf of the Queen at the Cenotaph, and hundreds took part in the parade, including members of veterans' associations, service and ex-service personnel and their families.

Some 300 to 400 former and serving military personnel and their families and members of the veterans' associations gathered at the Cenotaph for the wreath laying.

It is the latest in a series of commitments the monarch, who has just turned 96, has missed amid concerns over her health.

In London, the Queen's cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, also attended a morning service at the New Zealand War Memorial.

He laid a wreath and watched as a haka was performed.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall also marked Anzac Day.

Charles and Camilla released a statement alluding to the spirit of fighting in Ukraine.

The couple wrote, “As we pause to reflect on the sacrifice of the armed services personnel of Australia and New Zealand in two world wars, and in other conflicts and peacekeeping operations, our thoughts will also be with those communities around the world who are being torn apart by violence and conflict, and those who are fighting for freedom in the face of oppression.”

Anzac Day, April 25, marks the anniversary of the start of the First World War Gallapaghy Landings and is a natural day of remembrance for Australia and New Zealand.

Thousands of troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps died alongside British allies in the ill-fated 1915 campaign.

Its legacy is the celebration of the Anzac spirit of courage, endurance, initiative, discipline and mateship.

Crowds in Australia and New Zealand joined Anzac Day services at dawn to commemorate the dead as the sun rose.