Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, attended the Auckland War Memorial Anzac Day service this morning followed by a visit to Christchurch with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
This morning the Duke of Cambridge was accompanied by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff as he arrived for the 11am service at Auckland’s War Memorial. On behalf of his grandmother the Queen, the Duke placed a wreath on the war memorial cenotaph outside the museum in the Auckland Domain. The Domain was heavily patrolled by armed policed, including at least one sniper on the museum roof.
The Duke’s visit to Christchurch will include time at the Christchurch Hospital and Masjid Al Noor, where the mosque shootings began, followed by a visit to Linwood Masjid.
Tomorrow he will lay a wreath at the Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial beside the Avon River near Montreal Street. He will also visit the Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.
Prince William has been sent to New Zealand to represent the Queen and the Royal family. The Duke has strong ties to the country, and visited Christchurch after the devastating February 2011 earthquake. And again with his wife in 2014 during their country-wide tour.
The Royal family sent their condolences to Christchurch following the March 15 shootings. “We have all been fortunate to spend time in Christchurch and have felt the warm, open-hearted and generous spirit that is core to its remarkable people. No person should ever have to fear attending a sacred place of worship,” the Duke said.
