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Kate, William and George welcomed to Sydney by beaming prime minister Kate, William and George welcomed to Sydney by beaming prime minister
(4 months later)
Dressed in bright yellow and holding Prince George, Kate was the first to appear at the door of the Royal Australian Air Force jet carrying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the second leg of their Antipodean tour.Dressed in bright yellow and holding Prince George, Kate was the first to appear at the door of the Royal Australian Air Force jet carrying the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the second leg of their Antipodean tour.
William appeared moments after, but the striking Roksanda Ilincic dress had already made its mark. As they descended the steps to a delegation of dignitaries on the runway, the gold glared against the sky. William appeared moments after, but the striking Roksanda Ilincic dress had already made its mark. As they descended the steps to a delegation of dignitaries on the runway, the gold glared against the sky.
The welcome was subdued, almost low key. The governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, shook William’s hand, then the prime minister, Tony Abbott, who had been grinning even before the plane landed, took over. Abbott, an ardent royalist who has reintroduced the imperial honours titles to Australia, loved the formality. His suit trousers blustered in the wind, while a flank of 20 police dressed in jodhpurs and riding boots looked on. He continued to grin.The welcome was subdued, almost low key. The governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, shook William’s hand, then the prime minister, Tony Abbott, who had been grinning even before the plane landed, took over. Abbott, an ardent royalist who has reintroduced the imperial honours titles to Australia, loved the formality. His suit trousers blustered in the wind, while a flank of 20 police dressed in jodhpurs and riding boots looked on. He continued to grin.
The outgoing New South Wales premier, Barry O’Farrell, had been due to attend, but stayed away after sensationally resigning hours earlier.The outgoing New South Wales premier, Barry O’Farrell, had been due to attend, but stayed away after sensationally resigning hours earlier.
William and the prime minister spoke for a few moments, then the royals moved on.William and the prime minister spoke for a few moments, then the royals moved on.
Joscelyn Sweeney, 22, from Vincentia, NSW, gave a bouquet to Kate and a book, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie My First Book, to George. The baby was dressed in white, a royal onesie perhaps, with blue sailing boats across the midriff. He behaved impeccably.Joscelyn Sweeney, 22, from Vincentia, NSW, gave a bouquet to Kate and a book, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie My First Book, to George. The baby was dressed in white, a royal onesie perhaps, with blue sailing boats across the midriff. He behaved impeccably.
Sweeney held both the royals’ attention for longer than anyone in the delegation. Sweeney, who has Down's syndrome, was given the honour of meeting the couple after her mother Meg wrote to them, describing her “admiration and affection” for the two.Sweeney held both the royals’ attention for longer than anyone in the delegation. Sweeney, who has Down's syndrome, was given the honour of meeting the couple after her mother Meg wrote to them, describing her “admiration and affection” for the two.
So how did it feel to meet them? “She’s so nice,” Jocelyn said after.So how did it feel to meet them? “She’s so nice,” Jocelyn said after.
But not all onlookers were able to get so close.But not all onlookers were able to get so close.
Sitting cross-legged on a thin strip of lawn beside tall wire fencing capped with razor wire, which separated the runway from the road, grandmother Olga Bush played cards with her two grandchildren, nine-year-old Zara and seven-year-old Imogen. They were among a handful in this prime position.Sitting cross-legged on a thin strip of lawn beside tall wire fencing capped with razor wire, which separated the runway from the road, grandmother Olga Bush played cards with her two grandchildren, nine-year-old Zara and seven-year-old Imogen. They were among a handful in this prime position.
“It was difficult to find out what time to be here,” Olga said while feeding the grandchildren with a picnic of sandwiches on a tartan rug. “We just took pot luck and came early.”“It was difficult to find out what time to be here,” Olga said while feeding the grandchildren with a picnic of sandwiches on a tartan rug. “We just took pot luck and came early.”
Zara watched the royal wedding on TV and was hoping the royal party would come over and say hello. They didn’t.Zara watched the royal wedding on TV and was hoping the royal party would come over and say hello. They didn’t.
The royals were whisked off to a brown hut made from corrugated iron and marked VIP. They reappeared for a brief moment – brown clashing with gold – hopped into a car and were driven off in a motorcade to the Opera House.The royals were whisked off to a brown hut made from corrugated iron and marked VIP. They reappeared for a brief moment – brown clashing with gold – hopped into a car and were driven off in a motorcade to the Opera House.
Thousands who had gathered there waited for hours as the royals toured the interior and attended an exclusive reception.Thousands who had gathered there waited for hours as the royals toured the interior and attended an exclusive reception.
William delivered a short speech, praising the Australian-led effort in the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, lamenting the destruction caused by cyclone Ita in Queensland and observing Australia’s two decades of economic growth was a “beacon of confidence” for him and his wife.William delivered a short speech, praising the Australian-led effort in the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, lamenting the destruction caused by cyclone Ita in Queensland and observing Australia’s two decades of economic growth was a “beacon of confidence” for him and his wife.
William said he was “well prepared” for the visit.William said he was “well prepared” for the visit.
“The affection that my grandmother the Queen has for this nation is infectious,” he said.“The affection that my grandmother the Queen has for this nation is infectious,” he said.
And what of George’s first Australian experience?And what of George’s first Australian experience?
William said he had expectations the nine-month-old’s first word might be “bilby” after the former prime minister Kevin Rudd named an enclosure at Taronga zoo devoted to the endangered marsupial after the newborn prince in July.William said he had expectations the nine-month-old’s first word might be “bilby” after the former prime minister Kevin Rudd named an enclosure at Taronga zoo devoted to the endangered marsupial after the newborn prince in July.
And then they met the public out on the parapet in front of the Opera House’s sails. They posed for selfies, accepted flowers.And then they met the public out on the parapet in front of the Opera House’s sails. They posed for selfies, accepted flowers.
Was it worth the wait?Was it worth the wait?
Elizabeth Rutter, a Yorkshire-born proud Australian citizen who waited among the masses, certainly thought so.Elizabeth Rutter, a Yorkshire-born proud Australian citizen who waited among the masses, certainly thought so.
“She was absolutely grand.”“She was absolutely grand.”