Princess Anne has capped off her second day in Australia by laying a wreath at a Remembrance Day ceremony and praising Australia’s armed forces on the second day of her whirlwind trip.
The Princess Royal is visiting in her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, which she has held since 1977, and is due to attend a series of military events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the coming days.
The Royal Australian Corps of Signals is a team of soldiers who are technical specialists providing communications, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities to support military operations.
“One hundred years of service, innovation and dedication is a remarkable milestone, and it is indeed a privilege, as your colonel in chief, to share in this occasion,” she told a crowd of 900 people at Victoria Barracks, many of whom were current and past members of the corps signals.
“Over the past century, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals has played a vital role in every theatre of operations where our defence force has served, from the trenches of the First World War to modern operations across the globe, your work has enabled communications, co-ordination and connectivity, often under the most challenging circumstances.
“The cause motto, Certa Cito, swift and sure, reflects the professionalism, speed and reliability that has defined your contribution to Australia’s security and to the welfare of your fellow service personnel.
“Today, the corps is at the forefront of communications technology and information warfare.
The families of corps members, past and present, “whose support enables (them) to serve with such dedication”, also deserved a special tribute, she said.
Earlier, the Princess Royal had visited the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park and delivered a Remembrance reading, before laying a wreath.
Princess Anne’s arrival in Australia comes amid intense scrutiny of the royal family, after her brother King Charles recently stripped their sibling, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his titles.
Andrew’s style, title and honours were revoked over the former prince’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He will no longer use the title of prince and will move out of the Royal Lodge, a statement released by Buckingham Palace confirmed last week.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement reads.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Andrew reportedly met Epstein in 1999 and continued to stay in contact with the disgraced financier until 2011.
American-Australian Virginia Giuffre alleged she was trafficked as a teenager by Epstein to the former prince, before her death earlier this year.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
In the US, Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight have summoned the embattled royal to testify before them as part of ongoing investigations into Epstein.
