Princess Anne lays wreath at Hyde Park Barracks, marks Royal Australian Signal Corps centenary
Princess Anne wrapped up her first day in Australia by laying a wreath at a Remembrance Day ceremony and praising the Australian armed forces on the second day of her whirlwind trip.
The Princess Royal is visiting as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, where she has served since 1977, and will attend a number of military events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane over the coming days.
The Royal Australian Signals Corps is a team of soldiers consisting of technical experts who provide communications, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities in support of military operations.
“One hundred years of service, innovation and dedication is a remarkable milestone and it is truly a privilege to share in this occasion as your colonel-in-chief,” he told a crowd of 900 at Victoria Barracks, many of them current and past members of the corps signals.
“Over the last century, the Royal Australian Signal Corps has played a vital role in every theater of operations in which our defense force has served, from the trenches of the First World War to modern operations around the world, your work enabling communication, coordination and connectivity, often under the most challenging conditions.
“The case motto Certa Cito, fast and sure, reflects the professionalism, speed and reliability that define your contribution to the security of Australia and the well-being of your fellow service personnel.
“Today, the force is at the forefront of communications technology and information warfare.
He said the families of past and present corps members “whose support enabled them to serve with such dedication” also deserve special respect.
The Crown Princess previously visited the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park and gave 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 brother Andrew Mountbatten of Windsor of their titles.
Andrew’s style, title and honors were revoked due to the former prince’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Buckingham Palace’s statement last week, he will no longer use the title of prince and will leave the Royal Lodge.
“Although he continues to deny the allegations against him, these censorships are deemed necessary,” the statement said.
“Her Majesty wishes to make it clear that her thoughts and utmost sympathies are with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse and remain with them.”
Andrew reportedly met Epstein in 1999 and remained in contact with the disgraced financier until 2011.
American-Australian Virginia Giuffre claimed she was trafficked to the former prince by Epstein in her youth before she died earlier this year.
Andrew denied any wrongdoing.
In the US, Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee called on the embattled royal family to testify as part of ongoing investigations into Epstein.
