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Princess Anne steps in for recuperating King at WWII commemorations

The Princess Royal attended official ceremonies in The Netherlands.

The Princess Royal attended official ceremonies in The Netherlands. Photo: Getty

Princess Anne has stepped in for the King at ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem as the monarch continues his cancer treatment.

Anne attended anniversary commemorations on Monday (AEST) in The Netherlands in her role as president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The 74-year-old Princess Royal laid a wreath at the foot of the Cross of Sacrifice at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in tribute to the troops who fought in World War II’s Operation Market Garden in 1944.

The royal also read Psalm 91, which conveys the themes of God’s protection and rescue from danger.

The King, Anne’s older brother, is still having outpatient treatment following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Although he has limited his travel and public appearances on doctor’s advice, the King and Queen are scheduled to visit Australia for a royal tour from October 18.

In the Netherlands, Anne was joined by her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

Operation Market Garden was an ambitious joint airborne and ground forces operation designed to seize crucial bridges to enable the advance into Germany with the ultimate aim of shortening the war.

The operation, depicted in the movie A Bridge Too Far, ultimately failed.

Speaking on behalf of the King, Anne said that “tragically, despite the endless courage of all those who served in an operation … the Netherlands had one more terrible winter to suffer before liberation finally arrived”.

“Today, on this 80th anniversary, it is with a deep sense of gratitude and humility that we remember all those in the British, Allied and Commonwealth forces who served and died fighting for our freedom,” she said.

Anne has returned to public duties after recuperating from minor head injuries that led her to spend five nights in hospital earlier this year due to an injury believed to have been caused by a horse.

The King began treatment in February after doctors discovered cancer during a procedure for a benign prostate condition.

He resumed public duties in May after doctors were sufficiently pleased with his response to treatment, although his workload is closely monitored.

The King and Queen’s visit to Australia will coincide with a trip to Samoa for the October 21-25 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

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