Politics

‘We are with you’: Prince Harry and Meghan’s tribute to Christchurch victims

Mar 20, 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out to pay tribute to those who died in the shocking incident. Source: Getty.

Following the devastating terror attack which took the lives of 50 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out to pay tribute to those who died in the shocking incident.

Prince Harry and heavily pregnant Meghan made a surprise outing to New Zealand House in London on Tuesday afternoon in a bid to honour the victims who were killed and those who remain in hospital with serious injuries.

The couple, who are about to become first time parents, laid flowers outside of the New Zealand High Commission and also signed a book of condolences, with the message: “We are with you.”

While Prince Harry added ‘arohanui’ to his message, which is Maori for ‘best wishes’.

The couple visited New Zealand last year. Source: Getty.

Meghan looked sombre in a chic black coat and heels for the occasion as she cradled her bump, with just one month to go before the royal pair are expected to welcome their first child together. In a further nod to the mourning nation, Meghan wore a pair of feather design earrings for the outing, which were gifted to her by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

The duke and duchess also shared a traditional hongi greeting as they arrived at the high commission, with a palace source telling The Sun: “Harry and Meghan wanted to pay their respects in any way they could and agreed with Buckingham Palace that they should go and sign the book of condolence.”

Meghan and Harry are the last members of the British royal family to have visited New Zealand, following their 16-day overseas tour in October last year, during which they also travelled to Australia, Fiji and Tonga and completed a total of 76 royal engagements.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed the Book of Condolence @NZinUK, opened following the terrorist attacks in Christchurch.

The Duke and Duchess signed the book on behalf of the @RoyalFamily — Their Royal Highnesses visited New Zealand in October 2018. pic.twitter.com/AzdsmnoS11

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 19, 2019

Fifty people were killed in Friday’s terror attack in Christchurch when Brenton Tarrant allegedly opened fire on worshippers at two mosques.

The city in the country’s south island was targeted in what has been described as a designated terrorist attack when, at about 1.40pm (local time), a gunman entered the Al Noor Mosque in central Christchurch and opened fire, before driving about 5 kilometres across town and attacking the Linwood mosque.

A bomb was also found in a car on Strickland Street about 4 kilometres from the Al Noor Mosque.

Australian Tarrant has since been charged with murder and his cousin Donna Cox spoke out in an emotional interview on Channel 7’s Sunday Night show, revealing the huge impact his alleged crimes will have on his parents, who live in Grafton, NSW.

“Just what he’s putting his family through. That he is from… a very respected family, his mum, his dad, were pretty high in the community here,” she said on the show.