Charles, William and Harry Mark Battle of Vimy Ridge Centenary

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry have attended commemorations to mark the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the First World War battle that is considered an integral part of the Canadian national identity as it was the first time the four divisions of Canadian military fought side-by-side.

Joining President François Hollande of France and Canada’s Governor-General David Johnston and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the royals toured the trenches of Vimy Memorial Park, set on the battlefields of Vimy, France, before attending the commemoration service where Princes William and Harry laid poppies and soldiers boots in memory of the lost lives of the Battle. Prince Charles gave a speech and laid a wreath alongside the Canadian Governor-General.

Afterwards, the three Princes spoke with guests, many who had travelled from Canada and had links to the soldiers who fought in the Battle.

“They fought courageously and with great ingenuity in winning the strategic high point of Vimy Ridge, though victory came at a heavy cost with more than 10,000 fallen and wounded,” Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace for the anniversary.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Anniversary, Canada, France, Governor-General Johnston of Canada, President Hollande of France, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, Prince Harry of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, The Prince of Wales, World War I.

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