Friday, April 25, 2014

Farewell Down Under

     All great Royal tours must come to an end, and so it was that today was the last day of the Cambridge's visit Down Under.

     It was a day of solemnity and remembrance that started off with the surprise attendance by William and Kate at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the War Memorial in Canberra, marking the first time in 50 years that members of the Royal Family attended an ANZAC service in Canberra, as well as the first ever time that such members participated in the Dawn Service.
      The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived discreetly alongside Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to join a crowd of thousands in solemn remembrance to Australia's fallen in past wars and conflicts. In particular, it remembers those ANZAC's (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who landed in Turkey for the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I. Although the campaign was a failure, the actions of those Aussie and Kiwi soldiers on behalf of King, Country, and Empire 99 years ago has not been forgotten.

     April 25th was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, and during the 1920's it became a national day of commemoration for the 60,000 Australians who had died during the war.

      During this morning's early service, the diaries of Australian soldiers from several military campaigns (including Gallipoli) were read aloud in the dark by Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods.

     Another soldier, Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victorian Cross (VC), stood before the Duke and Duchess as he delivered an address to the crowd on the endurance of the ANZAC spirit. In particular, the recipient of Australia's highest military award stated: “While the ANZAC spirit may have first arisen in troops on the battlefield, it is indeed a life-force that resides in all Australians,” and that current and future generations “must take good care of it.”
      At the service, the Royal couple joined in with the crowds as they sang hymns, and they were seen wearing sprigs of rosemary on their coats. The Rosemary is traditionally worn on ANZAC Day (just as the red poppy is worn in the UK for Remembrance Day) and it is significant for being grown on the Gallipoli peninsula.

     Later that morning, William and Kate were back the Parade Ground of the Australian War Memorial for the ANZAC Day March and National Commemorative Service.
      It began just after 10:00AM with the Governor-General (as the Queen's representative) taking precedence by leading the Duke and Duchess to the Parade Ground, where there was a march of Australian veterans of wars and peacekeeping deployments.

     Prince William stood beside Governor-General Cosgrove as the salute was taken when the parade went by, and both men were wearing their service medals with a rosemary. Nearby, Kate was wearing a poppy brooch on her outfit, which was given to her during the previous night's reception at Government House by Emma Roberts-Smith, wife of the aforementioned VC recipient, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith. He was also at the reception with two other VC veterans, and on this day, all of them saluted the Duke during the march-past.
      A fourth surviving Australian VC holder, Keith Payne of Queensland, who received it for his service in Vietnam, also met the couple today. Poignantly, he got out of his wheelchair to march past and was helped up the steps by his fellow VC recipients. In honor of those who never returned, there was riderless horse as part of the parade as well.

      The ceremony which followed included remarks by Prime Minister Tony Abbot and the signing of hymns, including "Abide By Me." William and Kate also laid a wreath of poppies for the fallen at the Stone of Remembrance, and paused for a moment of reflection.
      For the conclusion of the National Ceremony, there was a flypast by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18 fighters, the same aircraft in which the Duke and Duchess had seated themselves earlier in the week for ground demonstrations.
      From here, they went on to the Hall of Memory, where they laid another wreath - this time at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and they also placed poppies on the Roll of Honour, which contains the names of those who had perished in the First World War. With of the poppies on display, it was indeed very moving.
      Another moving moment occurred when William and Kate were presented with a hand crafted wooden Victoria Cross, which was made from a branch of a Lone Pine, and within it was a photograph of a Lone Pine being planted by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (an uncle of the Queen and the only Royal Australian Governor-General) in 1934. The Royal Couple themselves planted another such tree in the Memorial Garden in tribute to the fallen and in commemoration of their visit.
      In the end, it was fitting that the last bit of duties on this tour involved the military, given the close relationship that the Royal Family has with the Armed Forces across the Commonwealth. It was about never forgetting those who have paid the ultimate price for their families and country, and it is a sentiment shared in America as well, especially since we have served alongside Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians, and other Commonwealth service personnel over the decades.

      Finally, the three-week tour Down Under came to an end as preparations were made for the Cambridge's to head back to the United Kingdom. At the Australia Defence Establishment at Fairbairn, it looked as though the tour was ending the same way that it began: with grey skies and the threat of rain.
      Nonetheless, everyone seemed be in good spirits as the time came about, except for Prince George, who appeared a bit grumpy in the comforting arms of his mother. Later on, he seemed to let out a slight cry, possibly indicating that he was not ready to leave Australia...or more likely because he was watching his giant stuffed wombat being loaded on the aircraft without him. After an exchange of farewell's on the ground, the family boarded the RAAF jet that would carry them to Sydney, where they transferred to a commercial flight for London.

     The Royal press pack, who collectively have done a outstanding job of covering the Royal tour, assembled one last time on the tarmac to witness the Cambridge's on their way out of Australia. Among those present was Prime Minister Abbot, who has made no bones about being a monarchist, and who lavished praise on William and Kate for their time in the country.
      At around 2:00PM, William, Kate, and George gave their last waves to the press and well-wishers as they boarded the plane. Soon, they were off, taking memories of this successful tour with them, and no doubt making the Queen very proud.


Photo Credit: Twitter Feed Embeds
Posted by at
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)