"The scale of it is unbelievable," the prince said while in Latimer Square, which was an emergency medical depot immediately after the quake. He visited the city's iconic cathedral nearby, where he was briefed by emergency services workers dressed in coveralls about the effort to stabilize and repair the Anglican church's tower that collapsed in the quake.

The government has said almost a third of buildings in the downtown area may be demolished as a result of damage caused by the quake, the cost of which is estimated at $11 billion (New Zealand dollars 15 billion). Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said William had been strongly affected by what he had seen. "He's been exposed to some pretty gritty things in his life given his career path," Parker said.

"He's taken this in his stride." William is visiting New Zealand and Australia on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to offer condolences for the earthquake and a flooding disaster that affected Australia earlier this year.