The Minister of Royals

Tukituki MP Craig Foss escorted Prince Charles and Prince Harry at Gallipoli ceremonies on Saturday, in his role of Veterans Affairs Minister. Photo / Supplied

Tukituki MP and Veterans Affairs Minister Craig Foss escorted Prince Charles and Prince Harry, at Gallipoli events on Anzac Day in Gallipoli.

"Taking Prince Harry to meet some Kiwis in the New Zealand crowd at Chunuk Bair was a great privilege and fun," Mr Foss said.

Mr Foss attended ceremonies for the many nations involved in the unsuccessful eight-month campaign, starting with a dawn service at Anzac Cove.

He Tweeted he enjoyed sitting beside former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, now Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

He did not know he had a family connection with World War I until his ministerial appointment piqued his interest last year. To his and his family's surprise, two great-grandparents fought on the Western Front with the British army. Mr Foss proudly wore replicas of their medals.

Soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, UK, France, India and Newfoundland, battled harsh conditions for eight months as Ottoman forces fought for their homeland.

More than 130,000 men had died - at least 87,000 Ottoman soldiers and 44,000 Allied soldiers including 2779 New Zealanders.

The Chunuk Bair ceremony was the last attended by Prince Charles and Prince Harry, the site of bitter hand-to-hand combat by New Zealand forces. Mr Foss read the last letter of Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone.

While his family weren't aware of their WWI connection, they are of Mr Foss' brush with royalty.

"My mum is over the moon that I met the Royals," Mr Foss said.