The commonwealth contingent passes Buckingham Palace during an early morning rehearsal for the Queen's funeral procession. Photo supplied by New Zealand Defence Force.

ADF and NZDF rehearse for Queen’s funeral

16/09/202216/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2675 Views 0 Comments Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022

Forty Australian Defence Force and 24 New Zealand Defence Force personnel will represent our Southern Hemisphere nations in the United Kingdom following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.

CAPTION: The commonwealth contingent passes Buckingham Palace during an early morning rehearsal for the Queen’s funeral procession. Photo by Corporal Dillon Anderson, NZDF.

On behalf of the three services and Australian Defence organisations which the Queen was directly associated with, the 40 ADF personnel will participate in official commemoration and memorial ceremonies as part of the official national contingent alongside the Governor General and Prime Minister of Australia.

A main marching party of 24 NZDF personnel will march alongside their Australian and Canadian counterparts with UK Armed Forces and other Commonwealth countries who had significant links to the late Queen.

Both contingents have been drilling at Army Training Centre Pirbright in Surrey and have also taken part in an early morning rehearsal in central London.

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