Princess Anne rededicates Guards Memorial at centenary ceremony
The Princess Royal rededicated the restored Guards Memorial in central London on 16 October, one hundred years after its first unveiling.
Princess Anne attended in her role as Senior Colonel of the Household Division, the Army's grouping that includes the Foot Guards for ceremonial and operational duties. The October 2026 event was formally titled the Centenary Dedication of the Guards Memorial ITN.
The memorial commemorates members of the five Foot Guards regiments who died in the First World War Royal Central. It was first unveiled by the Duke of Connaught in 1926. Around 15,000 First World War veterans gathered for that unveiling.
The Princess received a royal salute on arrival. She was accompanied by Major General James Bowder. She laid a wreath alongside representatives of each of the five regiments.
Serving soldiers, veterans, cadets and Chelsea Pensioners attended the ceremony. The order of service included prayers, a military inspection, a parade, music by a pipe band and drums, a wreath-laying and the National Anthem.
The stone memorial stands at Horse Guards Parade Town & Country. It carries five life-size bronze soldiers. They represent the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards.
The figures were created by sculptor Gilbert Ledward. They were cast using bronze from German guns captured during the First World War. The memorial was later updated with inscriptions honouring members of the Guards Division who died in the Second World War.
Among those present was John Barber. He is 100 years old and a former Irish Guards serviceman. He served between 1944 and 1948, including in Palestine in 1947.
