Princess Anne Heads to Greece for Crete Battle Commemoration

Monday, 18 May 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

Princess Anne will travel to Greece to attend commemorations marking the Battle of Crete, a major World War II engagement fought in May 1941. The battle saw Allied forces, including large numbers of British, Australian, and New Zealand troops, defend the island against a German airborne invasion before eventually withdrawing. Thousands of soldiers died, and Cretan civilians played a significant role in the resistance. Annual memorial ceremonies are held each year around May 20, centered in the Chania region in western Crete, particularly at the Maleme area and the Souda Bay War Cemetery, which holds the graves of over 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers. Tourists visiting the area can attend public commemoration events and visit the cemetery, located near the town of Souda, which is open daily and free to enter.