The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George

Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the victims of an earthquake in New Zealand.

The royal couple travelled to Christchurch on the South Island on the eighth day of their tour of New Zealand, where they met with people affected by an earthquake that hit in 2011.

The couple were greeted with a traditional Maori welcome in the city council's headquarters before being taken to meet with the family members of the 185 people who lost their lives when the earthquake struck the city in February 2011.

Prince William, 31, and Duchess Catherine, 32, visited the former headquarters of Canterbury Television, known as the CTV building, which became an iconic image of the natural disaster when it collapsed, killing 16 members of staff.

The couple - who are being accompanied by their 8-month-old son Prince George on his first royal tour - were then taken to what is known as the Transitional Cathedral, a short distance away from the city's original cathedral, which was significantly damaged by the quake.