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Canterbury Muslim community 'humbled' by Prince William's outpouring of love

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Apr 2019, 6:59AM
The Duke of Cambridge attended the 11am Anzac Day commemoration service at Auckland's War Memorial Museum yesterday. Photo / Getty Images.

Canterbury Muslim community 'humbled' by Prince William's outpouring of love

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 26 Apr 2019, 6:59AM

The leader of the Canterbury Muslim Association says Prince William's visit meant a lot for the community.

The Duke of Cambridge attended the 11am Anzac Day commemoration service at Auckland's War Memorial Museum yesterday.

Following the service, he travelled down to Christchurch where he will today visit the Christchurch mosques and those impacted by the terror attacks.

Shagaf Khan, who met with Prince William last night, told Tim Wilson the outpouring of love was very humbling.

"We expressed the love that we feel is coming from the Royal Family and also the importance of him being here personally for the community.

Khan described the Duke as a friendly person" and said the meeting was far less formal than anticipated.

"This was the first interaction, so I was expecting a really formal sort of introduction and meeting but he is really friendly and it was touching for us."

He said the Muslim community is healing following the March 15 mosque attacks which left 50 people dead and many more injured.

"We always have a vacuum in between that we have to fill in. It's a healing process and every victim's family and community as a whole. We have been healing but the flashbacks are always there."

Yesterday, Prince William made also made a surprise visit to the 5-year-old girl who was shot in the Al Noor Mosque shooting last month.

The little girl, Alen Alsati, received critical injuries after she was shot multiple times in the attacks on March 15.

The Duke of Cambridge Prince William meets with Alen Alsati, her father Wasseim and family members. Photo / Kensington Palace

The Duke of Cambridge Prince William meets with Alen Alsati, her father Wasseim and family members. Photo / Kensington Palace

Earlier this month she woke from a coma and was unable to see, speak or eat by herself but in the weeks since has made small steps in recovery.

 she was visited by Prince William and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Starship Hospital, with Alen quizzing the Prince about his family.

"Do you have a daughter?" she asked in a video released by Kensington Palace.

"Yes I do," said William. "She's called Charlotte - she's about the same age as you."

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