Prince, Duchess to attend Remembrance Day service in Canberra

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will attend the Remembrance Day service in Canberra as the first event in their visit to the national capital.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall arrive in Sydney. The royal couple are in Sydney as part of their 6-day tour of Australia. (AAP Image/Daily Telegraph Pool, Richard Dobson)

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall arrive in Sydney. The royal couple are in Sydney as part of their 6-day tour of Australia. (AAP Image/Daily Telegraph Pool, Richard Dobson) Source: AAP

Ninety-seven years ago, the guns fell silent on the war to end all wars, an event that will be marked with the major Remembrance Day service in Canberra on Wednesday.

The visiting Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will attend the event outside the Australian War Memorial and afterwards lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Also attending will be Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Presenting the commemorative address will be indigenous author and historian Dr Jackie Huggins.

Later in the afternoon, the Memorial's Western Courtyard Gallery will be renamed in honour of Captain Reg Saunders, the first Aboriginal to become an officer in the Australian Army.

Reg Saunders (1920-1990) enlisted at the start of World War II, serving in campaigns in North Africa.

He proved a gifted leader and was promoted to lieutenant, leading a platoon in campaigns in northern New Guinea.

He subsequently fought in Korea then joined the Office of Aboriginal Affairs.

Remembrance Day opens in Canberra with a morning ceremony outside Parliament House to remember defence personnel who have taken their own life as a result of their service.

* For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.


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Published 11 November 2015 3:30am
Updated 11 November 2015 6:36am
Source: AAP


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