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William, Kate and Prince George arrive in New Zealand for 10-day royal tour William, Kate and Prince George arrive in New Zealand for 10-day royal tour
(5 months later)
A gloomy, gusty Wellington morning on Monday threatened to disrupt the royal tour of New Zealand even before it had begun.A gloomy, gusty Wellington morning on Monday threatened to disrupt the royal tour of New Zealand even before it had begun.
But despite predictions that the flight – carrying Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to New Zealand for their first formal tour with eight-month-old baby Prince George – would need to be diverted north, the Royal New Zealand Air Force jet was able to negotiate the famously wobbly descent into the capital.But despite predictions that the flight – carrying Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to New Zealand for their first formal tour with eight-month-old baby Prince George – would need to be diverted north, the Royal New Zealand Air Force jet was able to negotiate the famously wobbly descent into the capital.
Shortly after midday New Zealand time, Prince William, Catherine and George were greeted on the tarmac by the New Zealand prime minister, John Key, and the governor general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, beginning their 10-day tour with a drive around the Wellington bays and a formal welcome at Government House.Shortly after midday New Zealand time, Prince William, Catherine and George were greeted on the tarmac by the New Zealand prime minister, John Key, and the governor general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, beginning their 10-day tour with a drive around the Wellington bays and a formal welcome at Government House.
The duke and duchess were met by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, New Zealand defence force bands, and the defence force kapa haka group, while eight-month-old baby George watched the proceedings from an upstairs window.The duke and duchess were met by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, New Zealand defence force bands, and the defence force kapa haka group, while eight-month-old baby George watched the proceedings from an upstairs window.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore a scarlet overcoat and hat, with a The Duchess of Cambridge wore a scarlet overcoat and hat, with a diamond fern brooch given to the Queen by the women of Auckland during her 1953 trip here.
diamond fern brooch given to the Queen by the women of Auckland during
her 1953 trip here.
Key later told reporters the duke and duchess were really pleased to be in New Zealand and he expected them to captivate the nation.Key later told reporters the duke and duchess were really pleased to be in New Zealand and he expected them to captivate the nation.
"I don't think their enthusiasm for coming to New Zealand has been dampened at all by the fact it was a little bit wet on the tarmac.""I don't think their enthusiasm for coming to New Zealand has been dampened at all by the fact it was a little bit wet on the tarmac."
The immediate lead-up to the royal arrival The immediate lead-up to the royal arrival came with a ripple of laughter at the expense of British media apparently suckered by belated April foolery from a so-called “Maori expert”.
came with a ripple of laughter at the expense of British media A report published by the Daily Express over the weekend explained that female dancers taking part in the official powhiri, or Maori welcome, had agreed to break with their tradition of performing topless. Men, meanwhile, typically wore nothing beneath their flax skirts, but “because of the high-profile guests they’ll wear black undies to welcome them,” reported the Express, quoting “Maori expert Tredegar Hall”.
apparently suckered by belated April foolery from a so-called “Maori During their stay in New Zealand, Prince William and Catherine would face a “minefield of customs” at marae, or traditional meeting place, the Express continued, including the ritual acceptance of a leaf. “According to tradition,” reported the paper, “if they pick the leaf up in the wrong way it could be deemed an act of war, with an international fall-out.”
expert”. London-based Hall’s tall tales, repeated but since deleted by the Telegraph website, went on to include the claim that the couple would be “offered traditional food including a native bird, the kereru, which is on the verge of extinction”.
A report published by the Daily Express The papers appeared to have fallen victim to a hoax, said Chris Finlayson, the minister for arts, culture and heritage and associate minister for Maori affairs. “It is an infantile prank at a time when Maori culture and New Zealand will be in the spotlight overseas,” he said.
over the weekend explained that female dancers taking part in the While he had not been intimately involved in the catering plans for the trip, Finlayson added, he could “guarantee no endangered wildlife will be served”.
official powhiri, or Maori welcome, had agreed to break with their In the New Zealand press, the welcome was effusive. The country’s biggest selling paper, the Auckland-based New Zealand Herald, devoted its front page and five pages to the royal visitors in a “Royal tour special”.
tradition of performing topless. Men, meanwhile, typically wore nothing Wellington’s Dominion Post announced, “Wellington welcomes the Cambridges” in huge type above a masthead which is itself a reminder of the nation’s constitutional ties to the United Kingdom.
beneath their flax skirts, but “because of the high-profile guests
they’ll wear black undies to welcome them,” reported the Express,
quoting “Maori expert Tredegar Hall”.
During their stay in New
Zealand, Prince William and Catherine would face a “minefield of
customs” at marae, or traditional meeting place, the Express continued,
including the ritual acceptance of a leaf. “According to tradition,”
reported the paper, “if they pick the leaf up in the wrong way it could
be deemed an act of war, with an international fall-out.”
London-based Hall’s tall tales, repeated but since deleted by the Telegraph website,
went on to include the claim that the couple would be “offered
traditional food including a native bird, the kereru, which is on the
verge of extinction”.
The papers appeared to have fallen victim to
a hoax, said Chris Finlayson, the minister for arts, culture and
heritage and associate minister for Maori affairs. “It is an infantile
prank at a time when Maori culture and New Zealand will be in the
spotlight overseas,” he said.
While he had not been intimately
involved in the catering plans for the trip, Finlayson added, he could
“guarantee no endangered wildlife will be served”.
In the New
Zealand press, the welcome was effusive. The country’s biggest selling
paper, the Auckland-based New Zealand Herald, devoted its front page and
five pages to the royal visitors in a “Royal tour special”.
Wellington’s
Dominion Post announced, “Wellington welcomes the Cambridges” in huge
type above a masthead which is itself a reminder of the nation’s
constitutional ties to the United Kingdom.
A Herald editorial credited William and Catherine with “revitalising the monarchy”.A Herald editorial credited William and Catherine with “revitalising the monarchy”.
“Like “Like Diana, they are making the monarchy less stuffy, more contemporary, and even Prince Charles appears to be more relaxed. With three generations of heirs to the throne, the monarchy looks settled for another century. It may live a long way from New Zealand but a family keeps the bond alive,” said the paper.
Diana, they are making the monarchy less stuffy, more contemporary, and The prime minister, John Key, agreed that the couple’s performance had stayed any immediate prospect of changing New Zealand’s sovereign status.
even Prince Charles appears to be more relaxed. With three generations While he remained of the view that New Zealand would “in all probability” become a republic at some point, he told Radio New Zealand on Monday morning, it was foreseeable only in “the very long term”. It was likely that Queen Elizabeth II would remain head of state “for a very long time into the future”.
of heirs to the throne, the monarchy looks settled for another century. Popular support for the monarchy, said Key, “speaks volumes about the way that William and Kate, as young royals, have modernised the royal family and their place as the head of state”.
It may live a long way from New Zealand but a family keeps the bond The lobby group New Zealand Republic, however, marked the occasion with a new poll in which 66% of those surveyed aged 18-30 said they would like to see a New Zealander as head of state. Among all those polled, 44% wanted a change, with 46% preferring the status quo.
alive,” said the paper. The couple will be based in the capital city, staying at the governor-general’s residence, Government House, and flying around the country for day trips. The visit, which has been widely compared with the 1983 visit by Prince Charles, Diana and baby Prince William, then nine months old, will see the royals attend numerous charity events, an aviation day with filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, sailing on Auckland harbour, and the obligatory meetings with All Blacks.
The prime minister, John Key, agreed that
the couple’s performance had stayed any immediate prospect of changing
New Zealand’s sovereign status.
While he remained of the view that
New Zealand would “in all probability” become a republic at some point,
he told Radio New Zealand on Monday morning, it was foreseeable only in
“the very long term”. It was likely that Queen Elizabeth II would
remain head of state “for a very long time into the future”.
Popular support for the monarchy,
said Key, “speaks volumes about the way that William and Kate, as young
royals, have modernised the royal family and their place as the head of
state”.
The lobby group New Zealand Republic, however,
marked the occasion with a new poll in which 66% of those surveyed aged
18-30 said they would like to see a New Zealander as head of state.
Among all those polled, 44% wanted a change, with 46% preferring the
status quo.
The couple will be based in the capital city, staying
at the governor-general’s residence, Government House, and flying around
the country for day trips. The visit, which has been widely compared
with the 1983 visit by Prince Charles, Diana and baby Prince William,
then nine months old, will see the royals attend numerous charity
events, an aviation day with filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, sailing on
Auckland harbour, and the obligatory meetings with All Blacks.
The royal party depart New Zealand on 16 April for the Australian leg of their tour.The royal party depart New Zealand on 16 April for the Australian leg of their tour.