• e-mail

Prince William commemorated Anzac Day in New Zealand on Thursday morning before meeting Christchurch terror attack survivors.

The Duke of Cambridge cut a sombre figure during the ceremony under the morning sun at Auckland's War Memorial Museum.

He was joined by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and tens of thousands of New Zealanders paying their respects.

William is on a two-day solo visit to the country, having left his wife Kate at home to attend a commemoration service in London.

Prince William laid a wreath to commemorate Anzac Day in New Zealand this morning before he is due to meet Christchurch terror attack survivors

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge lays a wreath as he attends the Anzac Day Civic Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

 The Duke of Cambridge cut a sombre figure during the ceremony under the morning sun at Auckland's War Memorial Museum

He is on a two-day solo visit to the country, having left his wife Kate at home to attend at commemoration service in London

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attends the Anzac Day Civic Service with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Mayor Phil Goff at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

New Zealand's national threat rating was downgraded from high to medium only last week after 50 Muslims were gunned down at two mosques in Christchurch last month. Pictured: Prince William in Auckland on Thursday

During the service, Catholic Vicar-General of Auckland, Monsignor Bernard Kiely, said a short prayed for the 359 victims of a suicide bombing attacks in Sri Lanka over Easter.

He asked for a moment's silence 'to pray for our brothers and sisters affected by the atrocities in Christchurch and Sri Lanka'.

'We pray for those who have grieved, for those who have died, for the wounded and for those disabled in body and mind,' he said.

'We pray for refugees, those without home, work or country.'   

Later Prince William laid a wreath on behalf of the Crown and The Last Post was then played before WWI and WWII planes flew over.

The service finished with rousing renditions of the Australian and New Zealand anthems, as well as God Save The Queen.  

New Zealand's national threat rating was downgraded from high to medium only last week after 50 Muslims were gunned down at two mosques in Christchurch last month.

Despite no signs of imminent threat, armed police were present in large numbers across the country.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) attends the ANZAC Day Civic Service with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Mayor Phil Goff and Clarke Gayford at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Anzac Day, held on the 25 April every year, is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand commemorating soldiers who lost their lives in war

William will spend most of his time in the South Island city of Christchurch, visiting first responders and survivors and meeting members and leaders of the city's Muslim community after the March 15 shootings that killed 50

Prince William (pictured on Thursday) visited the city following the 2011 earthquake that killed 185, and last visited with wife Kate in 2014

William (pictured on Thursday) will spend most of his time in the South Island city, visiting first responders and survivors and meeting members and leaders of the city's Muslim community after the March 15 shootings that killed 50

William will spend most of his trip in Christchurch, visiting first responders and survivors and meeting members and leaders of the city's Muslim community after the March 15 shootings.

It's not the first time tragedy has brought the Duke to the city in the South Island.

He visited the city following the 2011 earthquake that killed 185, and last visited with wife Kate in 2014.

The Duchess of Cambridge will instead attend a commemoration service in London on Thursday, continuing a 103-year tradition started by King George V and Queen Mary.

Anzac Day Dawn Service at Auckland War Memorial Museum on April 25, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand

A Soldier stands during the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Auckland War Memorial Museum on April 25, 2019 in Auckland

Anzac day is a national holiday in New Zealand, marked by a dawn service held during the time of the original Gallipoli landing and commemorated with ceremonies and parades throughout the day

Crowds attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Auckland Museum on April 25, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand

Anzac Day, held on the 25 April every year, is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand commemorating soldiers who lost their lives in war 

The prince's visit comes after Turkish authorities arrested a suspected Islamic State member they believe was planning to attack a WWI commemoration at Gallipoli on Thursday just hours before hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Australia and New Zealand.

Suspect: 26-year-old Syrian national Abdulkerim Hilef

The suspect, 26-year-old Syrian national Abdulkerim Hilef, has been detained in Tekirdag, a northwestern province close to the Gallipoli peninsula.

Turkish authorities said they arrested the man after monitoring his alleged telecommunications with identified ISIS members, believing he had plans to attack the dawn service in 'retribution for the Christchurch terror attack'.  

More than 1,300 Australians and New Zealanders are registered to attend the commemoration, with several thousand Turkish police expected to patrol the area.

Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson lamented fundamentalists with 'heinous motives' trying to disrupt Anzac Day services after the potential terror plot was foiled. 

Dr Nelson praised Turkish authorities for dealing with the issue.

'It's a reflection of the fact that we do have some people who have heinous motives,' he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

'The Turkish authorities went to extraordinary lengths to see that the Gallipoli peninsula was secure for the Anzac Day services that are being held there.'

Turkish nationals were banned from attending the dawn service, which Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell is due to be at, amid heightened security fears.

'Unfortunately we live in a world where there are people - wherever they live, whatever their background, whatever their beliefs - who are fundamentalists intent on disrupting what we do,' Dr Nelson said.

'The most important thing we can do is go about living our lives.' 

Crowds gather during the Anzac Day dawn service in front of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

People are seen laying flowers at the Shrine of Remembrance during the Anzac Day dawn service in Anzac Square in Brisbane

Crowds gather during the Anzac Day dawn service in front of the perpetual flame at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on Thursday

Thousands attended the dawn service at Elephant Rock on the Gold Coast in Queensland on Thursday

A bomb search was underway at Gallipolli to ensure the safety of thousands of people scheduled to attend the service. 

Turkish forces are conducting security checks every couple of hundred metres in the national park surrounding Anzac Cove, The Australian reported.

Those attending the event have been asked to arrive 11 hours early so they can clear three security zones, as well as an airport security checkpoint and a pat down.

Selfie sticks, foam mats and water bottles are banned at the Gallipoli service as part of the security measures. 

Inside the Hall of Memory following the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial on Anzac Day

Sisters Tahlia, 5, and Evie Malone, 3, place a poppy on the Roll of Honour following the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial

The last post is played during the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Cranmer Square on April 25 in Christchurch, New Zealand

A member of the defence force stands guard during the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Cranmer Square

A former soldier looks into the Enternal Flame at the Shrine of Remembrance after the Anzac Day dawn service