Princess Anne And The Duke Of Gloucester Lead Poignant Somme Tribute In France
Princess Anne has joined forces with the Duke of Gloucester for a solemn royal engagement in France, as the pair marked the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
The Princess Royal and the Duke travelled to the Thiepval Memorial, one of the most significant Commonwealth War Graves Commission sites in the world. The memorial is the largest CWGC memorial by the number of casualties commemorated, honouring more than 72,000 British and South African servicemen who died during the First World War and have no known grave.
For Princess Anne, the visit carried particular meaning. In her role as President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, she has long supported remembrance work and the preservation of military cemeteries and memorials around the world. At Thiepval, she and the Duke of Gloucester unveiled UNESCO plaques, underlining the historic and emotional importance of the site.
The royal pair then attended a service at Ulster Tower, a memorial dedicated to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who lost their lives during the Battle of the Somme, along with Ulstermen who served in other units. The service formed part of a day of remembrance focused on sacrifice, duty and the enduring responsibility to keep the stories of the fallen alive.
After the joint engagement, Princess Anne and the Duke of Gloucester continued with separate commemorative visits. Anne travelled on to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, which honours 821 Newfoundland servicemen who died in the First World War and have no known grave.
The Duke of Gloucester, meanwhile, attended commemorations at Guillemont Road Cemetery. The cemetery was first established in 1916 for soldiers killed during the Battle of Guillemont and was later expanded after the Armistice to include others who died during the wider Battle of the Somme.
Although the Duke of Gloucester is not often in the spotlight, he remains a working member of the Royal Family. Known formally as Prince Richard, he is a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and continues to carry out official duties in support of King Charles.
According to the Royal Family’s official description of his role, the Duke attends national and international events on behalf of the King, while also undertaking public duties linked to his own charities and interests. He and his wife, the Duchess of Gloucester, are still seen at key royal occasions, including Trooping the Colour, where they joined senior royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The Duke has represented the monarchy overseas on multiple occasions, including visits to countries such as Malawi and the Solomon Islands. He also played a visible role during the late Queen’s funeral in 2022, walking in the procession as her coffin was taken from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
His presence alongside Princess Anne in France offered a reminder that royal duty is not always carried out under bright lights or dramatic headlines. Some engagements are quieter, more solemn and deeply rooted in remembrance.
For Anne, who is widely known as one of the hardest-working members of the Royal Family, the Somme anniversary was another example of her steady commitment to service. For the Duke of Gloucester, it was a rare but meaningful public appearance that highlighted his continuing role within the Firm.
Together, their visit placed focus not on royal glamour, but on memory, history and the thousands of names carved into stone in honour of those who never came home.
