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A royal wave as Prince William and Kate head for home A royal wave as Prince William and Kate head for home
(about 1 hour later)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left Australian shores, wrapping up one of the most successful royal tours in the country's history from a public relations perspective.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left Australian shores, wrapping up one of the most successful royal tours in the country's history from a public relations perspective.
They flew out from Canberra on Friday afternoon with Prince George wriggling and squealing as they farewelled a line-up made of the prime minister, the opposition leader, the governor general and ACT's chief minister. They flew out from Canberra on Friday afternoon with Prince George wriggling and squealing as they said farewell to a line-up that included the prime minister, Tony Abbott, the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and the ACT chief minister, Katy Gallagher.
The duke and duchess turned and waved to the crowd of about 40 people that had gathered along the airport's fence as about a dozen people finished loading their luggage, some of it monogrammed, into the back of the Royal Australian Air Force plane.The duke and duchess turned and waved to the crowd of about 40 people that had gathered along the airport's fence as about a dozen people finished loading their luggage, some of it monogrammed, into the back of the Royal Australian Air Force plane.
The duke and duchess were both still dressed in the clothes they had worn to the War Memorial earlier in the day and George was wearing a red sweater for the trip home.The duke and duchess were both still dressed in the clothes they had worn to the War Memorial earlier in the day and George was wearing a red sweater for the trip home.
His parents thanked the police who have escorted them on their trip before saying goodbye to the officials.His parents thanked the police who have escorted them on their trip before saying goodbye to the officials.
When the official greeting party, which also included Shorten’s stepson Rupert, lined up to wait for the royals, Shorten went and shook the hands of the workers on the tarmac behind them as about 50 members of Australian and international media looked on.
The Che Ferry family planned their school holiday around the event, taking a trip from Melbourne to Canberra to try to catch a glimpse of the royals, and were waiting at the airport.The Che Ferry family planned their school holiday around the event, taking a trip from Melbourne to Canberra to try to catch a glimpse of the royals, and were waiting at the airport.
Teresa, nine, held a bunch of flowers she was hoping to give the duchess and when asked what she liked about the couple, she said she just did.Teresa, nine, held a bunch of flowers she was hoping to give the duchess and when asked what she liked about the couple, she said she just did.
"I like them both equally," she said diplomatically."I like them both equally," she said diplomatically.
Her mother, Janet, said she took Teresa to meet the Queen in the exact same spot when she was about 16 months old.Her mother, Janet, said she took Teresa to meet the Queen in the exact same spot when she was about 16 months old.
The family used to live in Canberra and said they knew it was the best place to try to see the couple because it was a "small town".The family used to live in Canberra and said they knew it was the best place to try to see the couple because it was a "small town".
The royal tour took in Manly beach in Sydney, Uluru, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.The royal tour took in Manly beach in Sydney, Uluru, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
Their last day was spent at a dawn service for Anzac Day followed by a memorial service at the National War Memorial. Kate and William’s last day was spent at a dawn service for Anzac Day followed by a memorial service at the National War Memorial.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore a poppy brooch which was given to her the night before by Emma Roberts-Smith, whose husband Ben is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Prince William wore a sprig of rosemary on his lapel, along with his diamond and golden jubilee medals, given to him for his service to the Queen and because he is a member of the royal family.
At the war memorial the Duke and Duchess laid a wreath at the stone of remembrance and placed floral tributes of rosemary and Australian native flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier after taking part in a memorial service.
In the tributes were wooden crosses with messages written by schoolchildren and the bouquet that the Duchess laid had a message which said: "In every second of every day, you will be remembered for your courage and your bravery. Thank you for your sacrifice and for what you have done for us. For that, I am truly grateful."
The couple then planted a tree which had been cultivated from Lone Pine at Gallipoli.
In the prime minister’s address to the memorial service, Abbott said Britain and Australia were family, though England is no longer regarded as the “mother country”.
“Your presence reminds us of all our comrades in arms. These are the ties that bind. Lest we forget,” he said.