Prince William today spoke of the "power of reconciliation" as he and the Duchess of Cambridge joined world leaders in Liège to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I.
The prince, in a growing statesmanlike role, said in front of the German and Austrian Presidents Joachim Gauck and Heinz Fischer in the Belgian city, "We were enemies more than once in the last century, and today we are friends and allies.
"We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them," he added.
"We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them," he added.
In his address William also praised how, as Europeans, we had worked together for three generations to promote "democracy, prosperity, the rule of law" and "shared values" around the world.
And the Duke of Cambridge speaking at a Service at the Cointe Inter-Allied Memorial added that it was now "unthinkable" that we would go to war against each other again.
Prince William also spoke of passionately about the impact of war and praised the Belgian people for their courage after being invaded.
He said, "The peace that we here enjoy together as allies and partners does not simply mean no more bloodshed – it means something deeper than that."
A century ago today the small Balkans conflict escalated into global bloody war with the German invasion of neutral Belgium in August.
Britain joined the conflict the following day as the world descended in the chaos of the Great War.
Earlier the royal couple were welcomed to Liège King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the former Benedictine monastery L’Abbaye Saint-Laurent, founded in 1026.
Kate curtseyed to the Belgian royals and kissed Queen Mathilde. William bowed as the King and Queen as royal protocol dictates as they outrank the British Royals at present.
In his address William added in his speech, "The fact that, Mr. Presidents, you are here today to represent Germany and Austria, and that other nations – then enemies – are here too, bears testimony to the power of reconciliation.
"Not only is war between us unthinkable, but former adversaries have worked together for three generations to spread and entrench democracy, prosperity and the rule of law across Europe, and to promote our shared values around the world."
He said just days before the outbreak of war people from all over Europe were enjoying themselves together on Belgian beaches along with German holidaymakers.
Within days , he said, this "carefree harmony" was shattered by the outbreak of the First World War.
"During four terrible years, those same Europeans were engulfed by killing and destruction. Among the very first victims were the people of Belgium, whose resistance was as gallant as their suffering was great.
He went on, "The magnificent war memorial where we gather today honours the city of Liège and its people for their courageous resistance in 1914. The memorial – and this ceremony – also honours all Belgians, who fought, suffered and died in the Great War.
"Your great sacrifice and your contribution to eventual victory was pivotal. Belgium’s resistance in 1914 allowed the Allies to re-group and draw up the battle lines which became the infamous trenches.
"These trenches have left an indelible scar on your land – they speak of the horrors of war but also of your forebears' courage."
Later today William and will attend events in Mons before being joined there by Prince Harry for the final two events of the day.
Prior to joining William and Kate in Belgium, Prince Harry will attend the “Step Short” remembrance event in Folkestone to observe the centenary of the First World War.
Prince Harry unveiled a Memorial Arch, lay a wreath at the War Memorial and take the salute of a military and civilian parade.
Following his engagement in Folkestone, Prince Harry will join his brother and sister-in-law for a Reception at Mons Town Hall.
They are scheduled to attend a Commemoration Event at Saint Symphorien Military Cemetery.
Tomorrow William, Kate and Harry will be at the Tower of London to attend the Tower’s poppy installation in the moat as part of the WW1 centenary commemorations.
Their high profile roles in these events again shows the Queen's confidence in the younger royals to perform national duty on the world stage.
When war broke out Liege, a industrial hub in the east of the country built on coal mining and steel, was Imperial Germany's first obstacle.
Its short but resistance remains a source of Belgian pride. It caused just enough delay to halt Germany's quick-victory war plans.
Reduced to rubble, Liege paid heavily for its sacrifice, but its bravery was such that France awarded the city the prestigious Legion d'Honneur.
It was the German invasion of Belgium that formally brought Britain into the war, the last link in a chain of interlocking alliances that were meant to preserve the peace but instead plunged Europe into the abyss.
"The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time," lamented British foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey as Berlin rejected London's ultimatum to respect Belgian neutrality on August 4.
The rest is of course tragic history - 10 million troops dead, 20 million injured, millions of civilian victims, empires toppled, the world remade.
On Sunday, the 100th anniversary of Germany's declaration of war on France, Hollande and Gauck remembered 30,000 soldiers killed fighting over the rocky peak of Hartmannswillerkopf, in the French border province of Alsace.
After Liege, the focus turns late Monday to Mons on the French border, scene of a do-or-die rearguard action by the first British troops committed to the war as London and Paris scrambled to prevent a German breakthrough in late August.
It was here, too, that the last British soldier was killed on November 11, 1918, the very day of the Armistice that ended hostilities after four bloody years.
The Mons ceremony later will focus on the small military cemetery of St Symphorien, where 229 Commonwealth and 284 German solders were buried together in a gesture of reconciliation even as the fighting raged.
