Princess Anne Marks 85th Anniversary of Battle of Crete

Saturday, 23 May 2026/Source: CretaOne/1 min read

Princess Anne represented the United Kingdom at commemorative ceremonies marking the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, held at Maleme in the Chania region. She attended a memorial service at the RAF fallen soldiers monument, honoring the Commonwealth troops who fought and died during the German invasion of May 1941. The Battle of Crete was one of the largest airborne operations in World War II and remains deeply significant to local communities across western Crete. Visitors to the area can pay their respects at the Maleme War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which holds over 1,500 graves. The site is open to the public year-round and is located approximately 16 km west of Chania city center, easily reachable by car or local bus.