By Matthew Appleby
Prime Minister John Key has paid tribute to the bonds between New Zealand, Australia and the UK that have strengthened through natural disasters in his ANZAC Day memorial address in London.
Mr Key, who is on a week long trip to the UK and France that was twice-postponed because of the Christchurch earthquakes, spoke to more than 2000 people at the Hyde Park Corner ANZAC Day 96th Anniversary Dawn Service.
"This year our bonds have been expressed in the face of great challenges. For New Zealand, the Christchurch earthquake of February 22 was a devastating event that stole more than 180 lives, and left a trail of destruction.
"But in our very worst times, we saw the best of each other. We have experienced a coming together of New Zealanders whose willingness to help out and dig in for their fellow citizens recalls our proudest traditions.
"The presence of the Australian emergency services on the ground, the contribution to recovery efforts made by Australia's Federal and State governments, and the many offers of assistance from individual Australians, has been a living testament to the ANZAC spirit.
The Prime Minister said that it was also as a family that New Zealand this year came immediately to the assistance of Australia in the wake of the Queensland floods and that Australia came to New Zealand's aid during the Pike River mine disaster last year.
"In times of sadness we are made stronger by the ties that bind us. From hardship comes mateship. That is the story of ANZAC Day," Mr Key said.
As well as the near 3000 New Zealand and 9000 Australians who died at Gallipoli in 1915, Mr Key also remembered the three New Zealand servicemen who crashed en route to last year's Wellington ANZAC Day commemoration and Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell and Private Kirifi Mila, who died serving in Afghanistan in the last year.
Mr Key laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall, then read Corinthians 4:7-16 from the Bible at a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving to mark ANZAC Day at London's Westminster Abbey.
The Dean of Westminster, Dr John Hall, told the congregation the "generous self-giving" of ANZACs in 1915 was also seen in the natural disasters in New Zealand and Australia. He cited Linwood Orchestra from Christchurch, which played at the Abbey, as a group that had overcome the adversity of the earthquake "as a symbol of the triumph of life over death."
In Washington, about 450 people attended an Anzac Day dawn service at the Korean War Veterans' memorial.
New Zealand Ambassador Mike Moore spoke of the "mateship" that existed between Australia and New Zealand service men and women.
"This bond is getting stronger, not weaker," he said.
He said it was also important to remember those who served the country today.
"There is much to admire about the younger generation. They too, remember."
Wreaths this year were laid by the governments of the United States, Turkey, Korea, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.
A church Service in remembrance of Anzac Day will take place at the Washington National Cathedral tomorrow (NZ time).
Meanwhile, Mr Key will meet the Queen tomorrow (0045 NZ time April 27). He said that she would be interested in how the [Christchurch] rebuilding was going. He added that it would be an opportunity to talk about the Royal wedding on 29 April.
Mr Key will attend the wedding to complete his visit.
He said the Queen was easy to talk to because she had a "deep knowledge of New Zealand".
The Prime Minister will also meet Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton to discuss progress in Christchurch post-earthquake.
The Prince visited the city in March.
A meeting was also scheduled with UK Chancellor George Osborne on April 28 to talk about experiences of cutting public spending. He will also discuss departure tax issues as well as migration of New Zealanders to the UK.
British Prime Minister David Cameron might make a return visit to New Zealand after a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, in October "depending on the fortunes of the England rugby team-if it makes the [Rugby World Cup] final", Mr Key said.
NZPA