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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Prince's shock at bushfire impact | Prince's shock at bushfire impact |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prince William has described his shock at seeing first hand the devastation caused by bushfires in Australia. | Prince William has described his shock at seeing first hand the devastation caused by bushfires in Australia. |
| As part of a three-day tour of the country, he met people affected by the fires outside Melbourne and said the power of the flames was "terrifying". | As part of a three-day tour of the country, he met people affected by the fires outside Melbourne and said the power of the flames was "terrifying". |
| Later at a reception, William said the resilience of the communities hit was an example of "the spirit of Australia in its purest, most magnificent form". | Later at a reception, William said the resilience of the communities hit was an example of "the spirit of Australia in its purest, most magnificent form". |
| Fires last February killed hundreds of people and razed entire towns. | Fires last February killed hundreds of people and razed entire towns. |
| Rebuilding | Rebuilding |
| William was driven through mile after mile of blackened trees, stopping off at a relief centre in the town of Whittlesea where he was shown a book of photographs taken shortly after the fires. | William was driven through mile after mile of blackened trees, stopping off at a relief centre in the town of Whittlesea where he was shown a book of photographs taken shortly after the fires. |
| Looking at the images, he said: "It's terrifying what it can do, isn't it?" | Looking at the images, he said: "It's terrifying what it can do, isn't it?" |
| He was devastated and saddened when we told him what happened to us Gabrielle Denky, bushfire survivor In pictures: William in Australia | He was devastated and saddened when we told him what happened to us Gabrielle Denky, bushfire survivor In pictures: William in Australia |
| Later the prince drove to another town, Flowerdale, where 13 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed. | Later the prince drove to another town, Flowerdale, where 13 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed. |
| Residents fought against the flames to save their school, pub and shop and in the aftermath of the disaster have rallied round and so far rebuilt 16 homes themselves. | Residents fought against the flames to save their school, pub and shop and in the aftermath of the disaster have rallied round and so far rebuilt 16 homes themselves. |
| Hundreds turned out to meet the prince, who told them: "I couldn't believe it when I drove through - the vast scale of it all. It really brings it home. | Hundreds turned out to meet the prince, who told them: "I couldn't believe it when I drove through - the vast scale of it all. It really brings it home. |
| "It's great what you guys have done." | "It's great what you guys have done." |
| One of those he met, Gabrielle Denky, said: "He was devastated and saddened when we told him what happened to us." | One of those he met, Gabrielle Denky, said: "He was devastated and saddened when we told him what happened to us." |
| William joined Flowerdale locals for a barbecue, all the time wearing a yellow ribbon in memory of those who lost their lives. | William joined Flowerdale locals for a barbecue, all the time wearing a yellow ribbon in memory of those who lost their lives. |
| He then faced a few balls from youngsters on the town's cricket pitch, alongside Australian cricketers Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden. | He then faced a few balls from youngsters on the town's cricket pitch, alongside Australian cricketers Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden. |
| Victoria's Premier John Brumby, who joined William on his tour, said the prince had seemed "staggered" by what he had seen. | Victoria's Premier John Brumby, who joined William on his tour, said the prince had seemed "staggered" by what he had seen. |
| The prince hit a few balls bowled by children in Flowerdale | The prince hit a few balls bowled by children in Flowerdale |
| "For those who lost family or lost property to have Prince William here and to be able to talk to him, to see that support, it's a great comfort to them," he said. "It's part of that rebuilding process." | "For those who lost family or lost property to have Prince William here and to be able to talk to him, to see that support, it's a great comfort to them," he said. "It's part of that rebuilding process." |
| Words for Haiti | Words for Haiti |
| The prince returned to Melbourne later on Thursday to attend a reception at Government House. It was part of celebrations for Australia Day - the national holiday commemorating the arrival of white settlers in 1788. | The prince returned to Melbourne later on Thursday to attend a reception at Government House. It was part of celebrations for Australia Day - the national holiday commemorating the arrival of white settlers in 1788. |
| In his speech, he said: "Today on the outskirts of Melbourne, I was privileged to see the spirit of Australia in its purest, most magnificent form. | In his speech, he said: "Today on the outskirts of Melbourne, I was privileged to see the spirit of Australia in its purest, most magnificent form. |
| "The stories of suffering I have heard today inevitably made me think about the ongoing tragedy of Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone there." | "The stories of suffering I have heard today inevitably made me think about the ongoing tragedy of Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone there." |
| The prince also joked about the kisses he had received from some female well-wishers during his time in Australia - adding that Prince Charles once enjoyed the same treatment. | |
| "My father had such a great time here at school and is still misty-eyed about an immortal moment on Bondi [beach], when an Australian beauty planted a smacker on his cheek," he said. | |
| "It's good to see this tradition is continuing." | |
| William watched Roger Federer win at the Australian Open tennis tournament | |
| William also said Australia had made a "profound impression" on his mother, Diana, when she had visited the country in 1983 along with the toddler prince himself. | |
| Just before heading back to the UK, the prince made a brief stop at the Australian Open tennis tournament to watch Roger Federer beat Victor Hanescu in straight sets. | |
| He arrived in Australia from New Zealand on Tuesday after his first official visit there representing the Queen. | He arrived in Australia from New Zealand on Tuesday after his first official visit there representing the Queen. |