Kiwi troops perform haka for Prince and Princess of Wales
New Zealand armed forces have performed the haka for the Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to a military base south-west of London.
Prince William and Princess Catherine were at Army Training Centre Pirbright today where the Kiwis gave a stirring version of the Māori cultural dance.
The royal couple were there to speak with Commonwealth troops who will support with the ceremonies at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
The Prince and Princess spoke with Brigadier Grant Mason, the Head of Australian Defence Staff in London and then met with 28 members of the Australian Defence Force.
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New Zealand troops perform a haka for Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales during a visit to Army Training Centre Pirbright. Getty
The Princess of Wales at the Army Training Centre (ATC) meeting troops from the Commonwealth. AP
Where the Australian troops come from
- Royal Australian Artillery
- Royal Australian Engineers
- Royal Australian Ordinance Corps
- Royal Australian Infantry
- Royal Australian Air Force Reserves
- Royal Australian Navy
The Prince and Princess also met with armed forces from New Zealand and Canada.
The Commonwealth troops are staying at Pirbright ahead of the funeral.
The same facility was used for defence members involved in The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral and Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee.
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Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales meet with military personnel during a visit to Army Training Centre Pirbright. Getty
The link between the Queen and the Australian troops
The late monarch had the following involvement with the contingents:
Royal Australian Navy (RAN): The first campaign medal featuring Her Majesty The Queen's effigy was issued in 1953 on the Korean War Medal. HMAS Vengeance escorted the Royal Yacht though Australian waters during the Queen's first visit in 1954. In 1986, the Queen honoured the RAN's 75th birthday by dedicating its national memorial in Canberra.
The aircraft carrier HMAS Vengeance. (Photo by Gordon Herbert Short/Fairfax Media). Gordon Herbert Short/Fairfax Media
Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery: The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.
Royal Australian Army Ordinance Corps: The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. Her Majesty chose the design for a Sovereign's Banner for the Corps as part of her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, travel in a carriage during celebrations for the Silver Jubilee. AP
Royal Australian Engineers: The Queen assumed the role of Colonel-in-Chief in 1953. The Corps was granted a Sovereign's Banner during the Queen's Silver Jubilee. One tradition was the Corps always presented the Queen with a dozen roses on her visits to Australia.
Royal Australian Infantry: Her Majesty The Queen was appointed Colonel-in-Chief in 1953.
Royal Australian Air Force Reserve: Her Majesty The Queen was Air Commodore-in-Chief.
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