The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made an unexpected appearance at the national dawn service outside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

In the cool morning air, the royal duo stood alongside Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lynne Cosgrove for the duration of the short service.

Photos: Anzac Day: Dawn service at Auckland Museum

Image 1 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 2 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 3 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 4 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 5 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 6 of 21 6-year-old Joel Shepherd wears his great-grandfather's medals during the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
6-year-old Joel Shepherd wears his great-grandfather's medals during the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebration
Image 7 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 8 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 9 of 21 Mayor Len Brown (centre) during the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Mayor Len Brown (centre) during the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 10 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 11 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 12 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 13 of 21 Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 14 of 21 3-year-old Isobel McLauchlan places a poppy after the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
3-year-old Isobel McLauchlan places a poppy after the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum during Anzac Day celebrations. Photo / Sarah Iv
Image 15 of 21 Devonport's Field of Remembrance on Windsor Reserve. Anzac Day commemorations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Devonport's Field of Remembrance on Windsor Reserve. Anzac Day commemorations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 16 of 21 A young girl holds the hand of a veteran during the parade, just prior to the Anzac Day commemoration service in Devonport. Photo / Sarah Ivey
A young girl holds the hand of a veteran during the parade, just prior to the Anzac Day commemoration service in Devonport. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 17 of 21 A serviceman during the parade, just prior to the Anzac Day commemoration service in Devonport. Photo / Sarah Ivey
A serviceman during the parade, just prior to the Anzac Day commemoration service in Devonport. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 18 of 21 103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 19 of 21 103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 20 of 21 103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
103-year-old veteran Lieutenant Commander Con Thode at the Anzac Day commemorations in Devonport today. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Image 21 of 21 Devonport's Field of Remembrance on Windsor Reserve. Anzac Day commemorations. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Devonport's Field of Remembrance on Windsor Reserve. Anzac Day commemorations. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Both are set to attend the major service later in the day and their appearance before dawn was completely outside their itinerary.

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A spokesman for the war memorial said they only learned the Duke and Duchess would be attending late last night.

As always, the service attracted a large crowd, likely to exceed 20,000.

Presenting the address, Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith said Australia was emerging from its longest war which claimed the lives of 40 soldiers.

He said these were men like their forefathers believed that our safety, freedom and way of life were more important than their own suffering and loss.

".... proud willing and capable men who did what needed to be done," he said.

Corporal Roberts-Smith said Australia's war in in Afghanistan was coming to an end but for those wounded it would never end.

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"It is a profoundly sad reality that our wounded tend to be forgotten though they have always vastly outnumbered our dead," he said.

He also called on Australians to never forget those who have fought for the country.

"We are Australians, we are born of the Anzacs. We are the custodians and stewards of their spirit now and into the future. We must take good care of them."

Corporal Roberts-Smith said later it was humbling to have the duke and duchess attend the service.

- AAP