Princess Anne visits South Korea to mark 75th anniversary of Korean War battles
Synopsis
Princess Anne's three-day South Korea visit is equal parts memorial and diplomacy. Marking the 75th anniversary of two defining Korean War battles, she will honour British war dead at Busan's UN Memorial Cemetery while also meeting President Lee Jae Myung and surveying UK–Korea maritime and defence cooperation — a pointed signal of Britain's Indo-Pacific ambitions.
Key Takeaways
Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence arrived in South Korea on 13 July for a three-day visit.
The trip marks the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong , major 1950–53 Korean War engagements involving British forces.
A commemorative ceremony is planned at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan , honouring British and Commonwealth war dead.
Princess Anne will visit Ulsan and Busan Port to review bilateral cooperation in maritime , shipbuilding , and defence industries.
She is scheduled to meet President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday to discuss trade, security, science, and cultural ties under the 'global strategic partners' framework.
Princess Anne previously visited South Korea for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics .
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and sister of King Charles III, arrived in South Korea on Monday, 13 July for a three-day visit commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong — two of the most significant Korean War engagements involving British forces. The visit, confirmed by the British Embassy in Seoul, also marks the broader partnership between the United Kingdom and South Korea. She is accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Honouring the Fallen at Busan
A central element of the visit is a commemorative ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, the southeastern city that serves as the final resting place for thousands of soldiers who died during the 1950–53 Korean War. Princess Anne is scheduled to pay tribute to British and Commonwealth service members and meet surviving Korean War veterans. The Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong, fought in 1951, were among the bloodiest engagements for British troops on the peninsula and remain central to UK–Korea commemorative history.
Maritime and Defence Cooperation in Focus
Beyond the memorial events, Princess Anne will travel to the southeastern port city of Ulsan to observe sites of bilateral cooperation in the maritime, shipbuilding, and defence industries. She will also participate in an event at Busan Port on Tuesday, where officials from both countries are set to discuss the past and future of bilateral maritime exchanges.
Vice Oceans Minister Nam Jae-heon called the visit 'a meaningful opportunity to reaffirm the trust between South Korea and Britain built through the sea,' adding that Seoul plans to 'bolster cooperation with the UK in various maritime-related areas going forward as companions,' according to a statement from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Meeting President Lee Jae Myung
Princess Anne is scheduled to call on President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen ties between the two nations. According to the presidential office, the discussions will span high-level exchanges under the framework of South Korea and Britain as 'global strategic partners,' covering security situations in major regions and avenues for deeper cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, and culture.
Context and Previous Visits
This is not Princess Anne's first visit to South Korea — she previously attended the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The current trip, however, carries greater diplomatic weight, arriving at a time when the UK and South Korea have been deepening their 'global strategic partnership' across defence, trade, and technology. This comes amid broader Western efforts to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific, making the visit as much a forward-looking diplomatic signal as a commemoration of shared history.
Point of View
Defence cooperation, and a presidential meeting with South Korea's new leader, Lee Jae Myung. Britain's post-Brexit Indo-Pacific pivot has been more rhetoric than substance in many arenas; visits like this are how London converts historical goodwill into present-day commercial and security leverage. Whether that translates into concrete shipbuilding or defence contracts will be the real measure of this trip's success.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Princess Anne visiting South Korea in July 2025?
Princess Anne is visiting South Korea to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong — major Korean War engagements involving British forces — and to attend commemorative events honouring British and Commonwealth war dead. The visit also aims to strengthen bilateral ties between the UK and South Korea.
What is the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong anniversary?
The Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong were fought in 1951 during the Korean War and are among the most significant engagements for British forces on the peninsula. The 75th anniversary in 2025 marks a key milestone in UK–South Korea commemorative history.
Where will Princess Anne visit during her South Korea trip?
Princess Anne will visit Busan, where she will attend a ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, and the southeastern port city of Ulsan, where she will observe sites of bilateral cooperation in maritime, shipbuilding, and defence industries. She will also participate in an event at Busan Port.
Will Princess Anne meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung?
Yes, Princess Anne is scheduled to meet President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday. Their discussions are expected to cover high-level exchanges, regional security, and cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, and culture under the 'global strategic partners' framework.
Has Princess Anne visited South Korea before?
Yes, Princess Anne previously visited South Korea for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Her current visit in July 2025 carries broader diplomatic significance, coinciding with deepening UK–South Korea strategic ties.
