Princess Anne attends service at Hall of Remembrance in Sydney

A few hundred royal loyalists lined the barricades outside the Anzac Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park to catch a glimpse of Princess Anne as she was ushered into the Hall of Remembrance for a special Sunday service.

Dressed in a cream jacket and black skirt, and hair in her signature stylish bun, she was greeted by dignitaries including the Governor General Sam Mostyn, Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley and Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, among other senior veterans.

This was a service to mark Remembrance Day, which is on Tuesday, when she will be visiting the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.

Princess Anne spoke with onlookers in Sydney on Sunday. (Supplied: David Swift)

Inside the war memorial’s sombre hall, she gave a Remembrance reading and laid a wreath. 

Outside, she stopped to chat with ageing veterans and their families — their medals pinned to their blazers.

Then the Princess Royal departed to applause from members of the public, who had waited throughout the service to catch another glimpse.

She was whisked away by car to the Victoria Barracks up the road for a Centenary Parade to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, of which she is Colonel in Chief.

It is a role she has proudly held since 1977.

After that, it was time to relax at a garden party in the Victoria Barracks’ plush grounds, with 900 largely military guests.

Princess Anne with Governor General Sam Mostyn during the service. (Supplied: David Swift)

The adoring royal watchers who turned out spoke of her being hard-working and humble. 

Many said they felt the scandal engulfing the royal family over former prince Andrew’s links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had been a damaging episode, but the institution would survive it.

Anna Macry described the Princess Royal as “lovely” and showed admiration for her work ethic despite her 75 years of age.

“She’s close to my age and it’s lovely to see her work, travelling so easily everywhere,” she said.

“I was just saying to my sister, I don’t think I could be here today from England and then go to Brisbane and wherever else she is going, so good on her.”

Getting a glimpse of her “favourite” royal was a must for Nina Taylor, who is on holiday in Australia from Cambridge.

Nina Taylor says the Princess Royal “seems very down to Earth”. (ABC News: Jean Kennedy)

“I think she’s a great royal to be honest. She’s my favourite royal, I think because she’s so hard working and natural, she seems very down to Earth,” Ms Taylor said.

The English national agreed with how King Charles had stripped his brother, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his titles and was adamant that a lot of her fellow citizens would feel the same way.

“I think they’ve done the right thing. They’ve dealt with it,” she said.

“She’s [Princess Anne] out here because she’s clearly carrying on with her work, which they do.

“I believe that’s the right thing to do. We’re British and that’s what we do, get on with it.”

Royal family marks Remembrance weekend in London

The Princess of Wales attended the festival with her 12-year-old son Prince George. (Reuters: Jack Taylor)

On the other side of the world, Prince George has joined the Princess of Wales, King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall in London, marking the beginning of a gradual introduction to more national ceremonies for the young royal. 

Princess Catherine made her first appearance since former prince Andrew was stripped of his titles at the annual festival held by the British Legion.

King Charles is the patron of the British Legion, a charity dedicated to assisting soldiers transitioning back to civilian life. (Reuters: Jack Taylor)

She was accompanied by her eldest son, instead of her husband Prince William, who was travelling back from COP30, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil. 

The festival commemorated the end of World War II and had a special emphasis on “the resilience and strength of military children who have faced bereavement”. 

The Royal family during a minute’s silence at Royal Albert Hall. (Reuters: Jack Taylor)

The princess wore Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. 

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie and Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria were also in attendance. 

Prince Edward, brother of the King, and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. (Reuters: Jack Taylor)

The royals sat in the box and watched a performance by Rod Stewart and Sam Ryder. 

Rod Stewart performs at the Festival of Remembrance. (Reuters: Jack Taylor)

Prince George is second in line to the British throne behind his father. 

The prince’s appearances were infrequent during his younger years, but George has attended several public engagements with his parents this year. 

In May, he attended his first royal tea party at Buckingham Palace. 

He also sat in the royal box with his younger sister Charlotte at this year’s Wimbledon Men’s Finals. 

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His father, Prince William, told Eugene Levy’s The Reluctant Traveller show in September there were “lots of things to think about” when considering his son’s future as King and a potential working royal. 

“I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better.”