Prince William attends WW2 commemoration in Auckland

Prince William arrives at the wreath laying ceremony with Prime Minister Helen Clark. Picture / Fotopress

Prince William joined Prime Minister Helen Clark and Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 2.

New Zealand stood shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom from the first day of World War 2 until the last, Miss Clark told veterans gathered at the Auckland Cenotaph.

New Zealand had the highest ratio of war casualties in the Commonweath, with 11,625 of the 140,000 servicemen and women sent to fight in Europe and the Pacific killed.

The end of the war closed a chapter in Britain and New Zealand's history which would be remembered with sadness for the lives lost, she said.

"But also with a sense of pride in our achievement in standing together in adversity and eventually prevailing to the benefit of the whole world."

The prime minister thanked Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, for his presence at the ceremony.

"It is especially fitting, given the role played by Prince William's great grandparents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth, during the war that he is here today as their direct descendant to honour the New Zealand contribution to the defeat of fascism and militarism."

Prince William is in New Zealand for 11 days on his first solo engagement acting on the Queen's behalf, during which time he has supported the touring Lions rugby team.

Earlier today the prince attended a service at Auckland's Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral led by the Dean of Auckland Bishop Richard Randerson.

The bombings in London on Thursday which killed at least 50 people had cast a shadow over the final days of the Lions' tour, Bishop Randerson told the congregation.

"Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, the injured, and to British visitors to this country.

"The deaths underline the reality that the loss of innocent life in any country is a moral outrage to be opposed by every nation upon earth."

- NZPA