This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12793661

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Prince William to see Australia cyclone recovery work Prince William sees cyclone recovery work in Australia
(about 7 hours later)
Prince William is visiting hurricane-ravaged parts of Australia on a tour that has taken in areas of New Zealand devastated by last month's earthquake. Prince William has visited cyclone-ravaged parts of Australia on a tour that has taken in areas of New Zealand devastated by last month's earthquake.
The prince will see parts of Queensland state, meeting people involved in recovery work and others affected by Cyclone Yasi early last month. Queensland premier Anna Bligh said: "It's been almost impossible for these people, but a little royal magic is just what the doctor ordered."
The prince saw various parts of Queensland and met people affected by Cyclone Yasi last month.
The worst storm to hit the state for a century battered coastal communities.The worst storm to hit the state for a century battered coastal communities.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, William said the people's response to the earthquake made them "an inspiration". Prince William visited the towns of Cardwell and Tully, which the category five storm devastated.
Speaking to a crowd of more than 30,000 people at a national memorial for quake victims, he said: "Courage and understated determination have always been the hallmark of New Zealanders. Banana and sugar cane crops were destroyed and power to more than 180,000 homes severed.
"But to see them so starkly demonstrated over these terrible, painful months has been humbling. Put simply, you are an inspiration to all people." One of those he met described the terror of the cyclone.
He said the ordeal endured by residents of Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, gave them a unique insight into the situation now facing Japan, where thousands of people were killed by an earthquake and tsunami. Joyce Kanowski, 68, from Cardwell, said: "It was absolutely terrifying. It sounded like a freight train would come straight through the wall of the house. We were waiting for the walls to disintegrate and the roof to come off.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them too," the prince said. "There were roofs all over the street and fences in trees, how someone didn't die I don't know."
Prince William also travelled to Greymouth to meet families of the 29 victims of the Pike River mine disaster last November. The prince met Red Cross worker Noelene Byrne in Tully, who may have saved hundreds of lives.
Compounded misery She explained:"I had a call to open two Red Cross centres on the morning coming up to the cyclone. The one centre which was Tully senior citizens' hall was an old building, a timber-structure.
The tour now takes him to Queensland, Australia, hit by Cyclone Yasi on 3 February. "I just felt given the severity of the cyclone that was predicted it wasn't safe there. I closed that centre, transferring them to the other hall.
Prince William will visit the towns of Cardwell and Tully, which the category five storm - the most severe level - left devastated. "The morning after the cyclone passed I had a phone call to come and have a look and it was just demolished."
He will then travel to the city of Cairns, where he will pay a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and meet others involved in the recovery effort.
The cyclone compounded misery in Queensland, where floods had claimed dozens of lives and destroyed hundreds of homes since December.The cyclone compounded misery in Queensland, where floods had claimed dozens of lives and destroyed hundreds of homes since December.
Janet Lobegeier said of the royal visit: "It lifts all the spirits of the whole town and it just lets you forget about things for a while and it's exciting, he's a prince!"
Honeymoon joke
He also travelled to the city of Cairns to pay a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and meet others involved in the recovery effort.
The prince, who is making the trip without his fiancee Kate Middleton, is travelling on behalf of the Queen.The prince, who is making the trip without his fiancee Kate Middleton, is travelling on behalf of the Queen.
In Cairns he joked about returning to Australia for his honeymoon.
Tania Moore, who moved to Australia 10 years ago from Winchester, Hampshire, explained: "He asked me what I'd be up to today and I said, 'Oh I've been up to the Great Barrier Reef with my kids. It's just stunning - you should go there'."
She said he replied: "No I wanted too, but I won't have time."
Ms Moore said: "I asked him when he was going to come back and he said, 'well we might have to come back for our honeymoon'. Everyone started shrieking and applauding."
Speaking earlier this month, a St James's Palace spokesman said the visit had been arranged following invitations from the prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia.Speaking earlier this month, a St James's Palace spokesman said the visit had been arranged following invitations from the prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia.
Earlier, in Christchurch, New Zealand, William said the people's response to the earthquake made them "an inspiration".