Vice Admiral Peter Hudson, vice chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said he was honoured the organisation had delivered the project and grateful for the presence of Princess Anne.

“[In the cemetery around us lie nearly 5,000 German and Austrian soldiers, the cemetery next door, another 350 personnel,” he said.

“This is a very special site of shared commemoration, a place for us all to reflect upon the individuals who gave their lives during the titanic struggles in the last century.

“This new centre is more than a building, it’s a place of learning, of reflection and understanding. It reminds us of the immense human cost of war. The stories told within this centre help us understand that cost.”