Monarchy New Zealand is pleased that Kensington Palace and the 2014 Royal Visit Office in New Zealand has released more details on the upcoming royal tour of Prince William, Catherine, and George.
The tour will commence on 7 April and end on 16 April. From their base at Government House in Wellington, the Royal family will tour Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown. Prince George will stay at Government House.
“I am pleased New Zealand will have the opportunity to welcome Prince William, Catherine, and baby Prince George,” says Dr Sean Palmer, Chair of Monarchy New Zealand.
“This tour will further enhance the close relationship Prince William and the royal family already have with New Zealand.”
“Prince Charles and Diana came to New Zealand with William in 1983, and now William and Catherine will be bringing George with them. It was on that trip that now-iconic photos of Prince William and a Busy Bee were taken on the lawn of Government House Auckland.”
Prince William has toured New Zealand four times in the past, most recently in March 2011 to attend the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial Service and to visit the families of the Pike River miners. This will be Catherine’s first time here.
Dr Palmer notes that this tour will be of great benefit to New Zealand and will draw the world’s attention to New Zealand’s people, industries, and its arts and culture.
“As with all royal tours, the world’s media will be watching. This is a great opportunity to raise New Zealand’s profile on the world stage and draw attention to some of our key national indusries; it is a fantastic advertisement for this country,” says Dr Palmer
Monarchy New Zealand Christchurch Co-ordinator, Alex Summerlee, says he is looking forward to the Southern leg of the tour.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity for the future king of New Zealand to see how much progress has been made in Christchurch since the Canterbury Earthquakes”, said Mr Summerlee.
This trip will follow on from the morale-boosting trips of Prince William in 2011 and Prince Charles in 2012. It also follows Prince William’s recent letter to the people of Canterbury on the third anniversary of the 22 February Canterbury Earthquake.