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Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Commemorate World War I Centennial For Britain

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 09:03 PST, Aug 4, 2014

As representatives of Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a ceremony at the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial in Belguim to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of Britain’s involvement in World War I in 1914. The royal couple joined other dignitaries in the solemn ceremony, which is part of a day full of events to mark the historical date.

Britain declared war on Germany, August 4, 1914 after it invaded Belguim, as part of a planned attack on France. Over the next four years, millions of lives were lost, including 750,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who perished in the battlefield. Belguim’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde greeted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Saint-Laurent abbey at around 10 am local time. At that time, Prince William laid a poppy wreath at the British memorial.

For the occasion, Duchess Kate wore a cream coat dress with pleated skirt, Peter Pan collar, and matching hat. The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William were also joined by British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife. The Duchess of Cambridge listened as her husband gave a moving speech remembering the fallen, which read, in part:

“In the summer of 1914, the Austrian writer, Stefan Zveig, was on holiday in Belgium near Ostend. He describes how people from all over Europe were enjoying themselves together, and comments that a great deal of German was spoken because holidaymakers from the Rhineland liked to come to the Belgian beaches.

“Just days later, this carefree harmony was shattered by the outbreak of the First World War. During four terrible years, those same Europeans were engulfed by killing and destruction. Among the very first victims were the people of Belgium, whose resistance was as gallant as their suffering was great. The magnificent war memorial where we gather today honors the city of Liège and its people for their courageous resistance in 1914. The memorial—and this ceremony — also honors all Belgians, who fought, suffered and died in the Great War.”

Later on, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince Harry and David Cameron in a ceremony at St. Symphorien Military Cemetery near Mons, Belgium. Duchess Kate was seen laying a wreath while visiting the sacred grave site.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid their respects to the fallen in a private visit to the cemetery, which houses British, Commonwealth, and German soldiers. The royal couple was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers when they arrived at Mons Town Hall.

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