Princess Anne shared a personal message during a trip to New Zealand, where she visited a natural disaster and crisis headquarters after a cyclone struck the nation.

The Princess Royal was at the centre in Wellington following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, and shared a rare personal message which was shared across official social media channels of the Royal Family.

"My thoughts are with all New Zealanders whose homes or livelihoods have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle," she wrote, adding that she admired, "the courage of the people of Aotearoa during this alarming and difficult time."

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Following her visit to the headquarters, Princess Anne said she had been, "impressed by the major efforts being undertaken by first responders, local and national agencies to ensure the best possible support for everyone, especially those still at risk."

She ended the open letter with a message for all those affected saying, "You should all be proud of the resilience, strength and care for your communities you are showing in the face of adversity. Kia Kaha."

princess anne message new zealand
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Princess Anne arrived in New Zealand on Tuesday (14 February) for an organised tour of the country. A number of official visits had been planned before natural disaster struck.

Pivoting to the situation, the royal was given a tour of the National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington by the nation's new Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, to learn about the complex work being done to help those in need.

You can read the Princess Royal's full statement on the Royal Family's instagram account.