The Princess Royal also visited the grave of a soldier identified 70 years after his death
The Princess Royal commenced an official visit to South Korea on Tuesday, paying tribute to British servicemen who lost their lives during the Korean War.
Accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne travelled to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan for a ceremony marking 75 years since the Battle of Imjin River.
The conflict remains the deadliest engagement fought by British forces since World War Two.
During the moving service, the King's sister placed a wreath of red poppies at the foot of a lion statue dedicated to fallen British soldiers.
The cemetery serves as the final resting place for 2,339 UN servicemen from 14 different countries who died during the conflict.
The battle unfolded over three days between April 22 and April 25, 1951, when approximately 4,000 soldiers from the British 29th Brigade confronted more than 27,000 troops from the Chinese 63rd Army.
Among the British forces, roughly 700 men from the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, mounted a desperate defensive action on Hill 235, later renamed Gloster Hill in their honour.
The "Glorious Glosters" held their position in what became a legendary last stand.
The fighting claimed 59 lives during the defence of the hill, while 526 soldiers were captured, including 180 who had sustained wounds. A further 34 prisoners subsequently died in captivity.
Their sacrifice proved strategically vital, halting the Communist advance and preventing enemy forces from outflanking Republic of Korea and United Nations positions, ultimately protecting Seoul from direct assault.
Princess Anne toured the cemetery grounds, learning about the Victoria Cross recipients buried there.
Lieutenant Philip Curtis, who hailed from Devonport in Devon, received Britain's highest military honour posthumously for his actions at Imjin River, where he continued leading his platoon despite suffering wounds and repeatedly attacked an enemy machine-gun emplacement before being killed.
The princess also visited the grave of Major Patrick Angier from The Gloucestershire Regiment, whose identity remained unknown for more than seven decades after his death at Imjin River.
Major Angier was finally identified in 2023 following detailed examination of historical documents, including maps, telegrams, military reports and correspondence.
He had been buried as an unknown soldier since the war ended, his sacrifice unrecognised until researchers pieced together the evidence.
The princess took tea with three Korean War veterans during her visit: Ryu Young-bong, 92, Kim Eung-soo, 94, and Jeong Sik-hyeon, 95.
A spokesman for the United Nations Memorial Cemetery said Anne listened intently to the servicemen's accounts and expressed "her deepest respect and gratitude for their immense sacrifice and devotion".
In a personal tribute, she placed a single white chrysanthemum on the grave of Private Martin Hogan, a Black Watch soldier who died on July 14, 1952, at just 19 years old, marking the exact anniversary of his death.
The royal couple also toured HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, among the world's largest shipbuilding companies, to discuss UK-South Korea cooperation in maritime and defence industries.
