Royal Visit

14 Dec 2009

His Royal Highness Prince William will make a three day visit to New Zealand in January 2010 - his first official visit overseas.

During his visit from January 17 to 19, Prince William will visit Auckland and Wellington.  Among a number of engagements, Prince William will represent Her Majesty The Queen at the opening of the Supreme Court building in Wellington on Monday 18 January.  The Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, will host the Prince to a hangi dinner at Government House Auckland on 17 January.   The public can also follow the Prince's visit on Facebook and Bebo.

The Prince last visited New Zealand in 2005 when he followed the British Lions' rugby tour. 

Following his visit to New Zealand, he will make an unofficial visit to Australia, his first to the country since he was nine months old when he accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales on their official tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1983.

Prince William is the elder son of The Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales.  He was born on 21 June 1982, at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, and christened on 4 August 1982.

Prince William was educated at Eton College and St Andrews University in Scotland, where he graduated in 2005.  After a period of work experience, Prince William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Officer Cadet.  He was commissioned as an army officer in front of The Queen in December 2006 and joined the Household Cavalry (Blues and Royals) as a Second Lieutenant.  While still a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry, Prince William is now training to be a search and rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force. 

To follow Prince William's visit on Facebook click here and on Bebo here

To read the Prime Minister's press release announcing details of the visit, click here. 

To visit the Prince's website, click here.

To visit the British Monarchy website, click here.