Princess Anne honored a historic pilgrimage with an overseas trip as the Royal Family shared a side-by-side snap in tribute to an important anniversary.
- The Princess Royal traveled to France as she marked the centenary of The King’s Pilgrimage undertaken by her great-grandfather.
- Sharing a side-by-side photo of Princess Anne and George VI, the Royal Family revealed the significance behind the visit and fans were incredibly moved.
- This royal news comes as we revealed why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle don't want to be included in the royal 'balcony moment' at the Queen's Jubilee.
With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022 celebrations now just weeks away, the extended Royal Family are continuing to carry out a packed schedule of engagements, both in tribute to this milestone and separate from it. Princess Anne was found to be the hardest working royal of last year according to research and now she’s visited France in honor of another important anniversary.
A hundred years ago, her great-grandfather King George V undertook The King’s Pilgrimage across France and Belgium to cemeteries that commemorate those who lost their lives in the First World War.
Now the Princess Royal has honored his historic pilgrimage and taking to social media the Royal Family have shared a series of poignant photos taken a century apart.
The caption went on to explain, “The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was set up with the mammoth task of commemorating every soldier who died in the First World War.
“Passes were issued to relatives visiting the graves of family members in France and Belgium. It was in the context of these many deeply personal pilgrimages that The King’s visits took place. He was issued with his own pass.”
“During a speech at Terlincthun cemetery the King spoke of the ‘gallant souls’ commemorated, and remarked that the new cemeteries would enable the living to, ‘meet (the fallen) souls once more, humbly but unashamed’,” they added.
Rudyard Kipling, @CWGC Literary Advisor christened the visits‘The King’s Pilgrimage’ in his poem of the same name: 'Our King went forth on pilgrimageHis prayers and vows to pay To them that saved our heritage And cast their own away.' Find out more:https://t.co/QBVkNePdUm pic.twitter.com/OKxyvQ50K2May 14, 2022
During his Pilgrimage, King George also paid a special visit to the grave of Sergeant Alpheus Matthew from the Royal Army Service Corps. Here he placed forget-me-nots in memory of him after Queen Mary had received a request from his mother.
On May 15th, a hundred years since The King’s Pilgrimage, the Princess Royal also visited Sergeant Matthew’s grave. This deeply moving visit from the second eldest of the Queen’s children was shown in a side-by-side snap with her great-grandfather also in France.
And fans were quick to express their admiration for the royals’ significant visits, with some describing Princess Anne in particular as a huge “asset”.
“Poignant moment for the Princess”, one fan wrote as they reflected on the anniversary and all those being commemorated.
“She is a great asset to the Crown. So much love and respect for her”, another agreed.
Whilst a third added movingly, “May we never forget history and the love these soldiers had for their country -and King”.
“The Princess Royal as dutiful as ever”, someone else wrote. “Such a loyal and hard working member of our Royal Family. 👏👏”.
Princess Anne’s deeply personal and emotional visit comes ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday. As a member of the Royal Family who regularly undertakes engagements on the monarch’s behalf, the Princess Royal is expected to make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside Her Majesty during the weekend’s celebrations.
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