2014 Royal Visit.



          For the first time the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge go on an official Royal Tour as a married couple. They will be accompanied by their young son Prince George. Part of their time on tour will be spent in various parts of New Zealand.
         Prince William will be acting on behalf of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as her representative so New Zealand will consider him in the same official capacity as they would the Queen. It will be Catherine's first visit to this country.

        To mark this important royal event, NZ Post will be issuing two values on the 7th of April. This issue will also include a First Day Cover a special cancel strike. The designs showed two lovely photos of the royal couple with their baby. (You may wish to visit my post '2013  Prince George of Cambridge.')

   

During this Royal Visit of 2014 our thoughts go back to an earlier tour when Prince Charles, the Princess of Wales and a young William visited in March and April of 1983. Who will forget that moment when a crawling William made a grasp at a traditional New Zealand toy, the buzzy bee.

 

Front page of the New Zealand Herald - 1983.

That moment when Prince William reached for the Buzzy Bee.

Now we have come a full circle, Prince William is bringing his wife and child to visit New Zealand. It will be an important tour for both and country and for this young royal family. Over recent years William has been seen to breath fresh air on a new more open and casual monarchy.   

The New Zealand Visit.



April 7, Wellington - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George will arrive at the Military Terminal at Wellington Airport on a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft.
          William and Kate will attend a ceremonial welcome ceremony, including a Maori Powhiri and inspection of a guard of honour.

April 9, Wellington - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George attend an event for Plunket nurses and parents with their young children at Government House, Wellington.

April 10, Blenheim - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a wreath-laying ceremony and commemoration, War Memorial, Seymour Square, Blenheim and view an exhibition of WWI aircraft before moving outside to view the static WWI display, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
          William and Kate will also attend a State Reception, Government House, Wellington. The Duke will deliver a short speech and unveil a portrait of HM The Queen.

April 11, Auckland - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet serving Air Force personnel and their families in a hangar adjacent to the runway, RNZAF Whenuapai, near Auckland.
          The couple will each board an Emirates Team New Zealand Americas Cup yacht and sail around Auckland Harbour. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travel across Auckland Harbour in a 'Sealegs' craft, Westpark Marina, Auckland.

April 12, Waikato - The Duke of Cambridge will view the manufacturing plant and a static display of the XSTOL aircraft at Pacific Aerospace, Hamilton Airport. The Duchess of Cambridge meet children, families and nursing staff, and view a play therapy session at Rainbow Place Children's Hospice Waikato, Hamilton.
           The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pay their respects at the town War Memorial in Cambridge before travelling through the town centre. The couple will open the Avantidrome in Hamilton, start several races, watch a BMX display, meet Olympic athletes.

April 13, Dunedin - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Dunedin airport and are greeted by members of the Ngai Tahu iwi. They will attend a service at the Cathedral Church of St Paul, Dunedin.
          The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch, and participate in, a Rippa Rugby tournament, Forsyth Barr stadium, Dunedin.

April 13, Queenstown - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Otago Wines, Amisfield Winery, sample local wines and produce and tour the vineyard. Next, they will travel on the Shotover Jet along the Shotover River.

April 14, Christchurch - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by members of the Ngai Tahu iwi, Christchurch City Council Building. William and Kate will watch, and participate in, a 2015 Cricket World Cup event.
          The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a lunch held by the Chamber of Commerce and later view the RNZAF Memorial Wall, Wigram Air Force Base, Christchurch.

April 16, Wellington - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will meet recruits, pay their respects to those officers killed on duty, view a police training display and dog display, Royal New Zealand Police College, Porirua, near Wellington.
          The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will conclude their visit to New Zealand with a short walk through the Civic Centre and sign the city's visitors’ book, Wellington City Centre. The royals will then depart Wellington on board a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, Military Terminal, Wellington Airport.