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It has been confirmed that Princess Anne will undertake an important royal visit to Amsterdam later this month to represent King Charles at celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden. The 74-year-old Princess Royal will travel to the Netherlands for a two-day trip from September 19-20 to commemorate the World War 2 operation.
Operation Market Garden was a failed Allied military operation that took place in September 1944 and sought to liberate key parts of the Netherlands and advance deep into Germany to end the war more rapidly. It involved over 35,000 parachute troops and glider-borne soldiers being dropped behind German lines in the largest airborne operation in history. Although ambitious, the operation ultimately failed to achieve its strategic objectives.
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Princess Anne will be accompanied on the visit by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence. Although King Charles had initially been scheduled to attend the anniversary commemorations himself, he will now be undertaking an overseas tour of Australia and Southeast Asia in October. As such, Princess Anne has been tasked with representing the King at the key events in Amsterdam to honor the sacrifices of all those who took part in Operation Market Garden.
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The itinerary for Princess Anne's visit includes a tour of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein in Utrecht, where she will view exhibits relating to the occupation of the Netherlands, remembrance, and remembering the events of 80 years ago. She will also witness a parachute display by members of the British Army's Parachute Regiment, also known as the Red Devils.
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Following the parachute demonstration, Anne and Sir Tim will meet with volunteers, local officials, veterans, and military representatives involved in organizing the anniversary commemorations. Princess Anne is also scheduled to make a speech paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of British, Dutch, and Allied troops who fought in the operation.
As President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Anne will also be present for the yearly commemorative ceremony being held on September 22nd to honor the eight decades since Operation Market Garden took place. At the ceremony, she will recognize the efforts and losses of troops from all nations who took part in the audacious but ultimately unsuccessful plan to seize bridges over the Rhine River and advance into Germany in late 1944.
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Operation Market Garden was devised by Allied commanders as a means to outflank German defensive positions on the Siegfried Line and enable a rapid armored thrust into the industrial heartland of Germany. It involved over 35,000 airborne troops being dropped by glider and parachute to seize and hold key bridges along the planned advance route of the Allies ground forces.
The U.S. 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the British 1st Airborne Division were tasked with capturing several bridges in the Netherlands, with Polish airborne forces also providing assistance. Initially many objectives were achieved, but German resistance proved fiercer than expected. Crucially, the farthest objective bridge at Arnhem could not be secured in time by the British 1st Airborne before German reinforcements arrived to overwhelm them.
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This failure meant Allied ground forces could not establish the breakout across the Rhine that was needed for the operation to succeed strategically. Instead of ending the war by Christmas as hoped, fighting would continue for another 8 months until Germany's surrender in May 1945. However, the bravery shown by airborne and glider-borne troops against difficult odds has ensured Operation Market Garden's place in military history and ensured its annual commemoration.
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Princess Anne's visit later this month will recognize both the ambition and tragedy of the operation, as she honors on behalf of the King the sacrifices made by all those who took part. Her presence at anniversary events is a demonstration of the continued gratitude of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth to our Dutch and Allied allies who fought alongside us. While Market Garden's objectives were not achieved, the valor displayed under extraordinary circumstances has earned the eternal respect of generations since. Princess Anne will rightly pay tribute to that legacy of service and remembrance during her trip to Amsterdam.
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