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Prince William arrives in Christchurch to meet shooting survivors

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 25 Apr 2019, 10:34AM
Prince William laying a wreath for Anzac Day at the Auckland War Memorial in the Domain today before he left for Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William laying a wreath for Anzac Day at the Auckland War Memorial in the Domain today before he left for Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images

Prince William arrives in Christchurch to meet shooting survivors

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 25 Apr 2019, 10:34AM

Prince William has arrived in Christchurch to pay the Royal Family's respects to the victims of the March 15 mosque shootings.

William, the Duke of Cambridge, flew in from Auckland, where, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, he attended the 11am Anzac Day Civic Service at the Auckland War Memorial in the Domain.

He laid a wreath on behalf of his grandmother the Queen but did not address the crowd.

Tomorrow morning, William will visit Christchurch Hospital and Masjid Al Noor, where the mosque shootings began.

Prince William's New Zealand visit includes attending an Anzac Day service in Auckland and visiting the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William's New Zealand visit includes attending an Anzac Day service in Auckland and visiting the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images

In the afternoon he will go to the Linwood Masjid and later will lay a wreath at the Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial beside the Avon River near Montreal St. That will be followed by a short walkabout at the area set aside for reflection on the other side of the river.

Two sections of Christchurch roads near the earthquake memorial will be closed from 2pm to 6pm for the visit: Montreal St between Tuam and Cashel Sts, and Cambridge Tce between Rolleston Ave and Cashel St.

Mosque terror attack survivor Mustafa Boztas, who was shot in the leg at Al Noor and was discharged from hospital this week, hopes to meet William this afternoon.

"I'm looking forward to meeting Prince William and the Prime Minister. It's good to see him support us," Boztas said.

Police spotters at the Auckland War Memorial Museum today. Photo / Dean Purcell
Police spotters at the Auckland War Memorial Museum today. Photo / Dean Purcell

William has strong ties to New Zealand and visited Christchurch soon after the devastating February 2011 earthquake. He and wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, visited the city on their New Zealand tour in April 2014.

William and several other members of the royal family said in a statement 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."

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