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Royal tour, day one: Prince Charles and Camilla in Auckland

Monday, 18 November 2019

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attended a number of engagements on the first day of their 2019 visit to New Zealand.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have kicked off their six-day tour of New Zealand with a busy day of activities around Auckland.

Prince Charles and Camilla touched down at the Whenuapai Air Base on Sunday afternoon for a a week-long visit to Auckland, Northland, Christchurch and Kaikōura.

On Monday, they kicked off their official engagements with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Mt Roskill War Memorial.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive to pay their respects to fallen Niuean soldiers at the Mt Roskill War Memorial.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive to pay their respects to fallen Niuean soldiers at the Mt Roskill War Memorial.

The memorial was erected in 2016 to acknowledge men from Niue who fought with the 3rd Māori Contingent in World War I.

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Prince Charles lays a wreath at the Mt Roskill War Memorial. A wreath-laying service is a traditional formal procedure for all royal visits.
Prince Charles lays a wreath at the Mt Roskill War Memorial. A wreath-laying service is a traditional formal procedure for all royal visits.

* Royal visit: Prince Charles and Camilla to visit Waitangi, Christchurch next month

* Royal visit in pictures: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Auckland

Prince Charles was invited to create something for himself, placing shredded plastic into moulds, at environmental sustainability organisation Critical Design.
Prince Charles was invited to create something for himself, placing shredded plastic into moulds, at environmental sustainability organisation Critical Design.

* Royal visit: Live coverage**

Prince Charles laid a wreath at the memorial, bowing his head as he stepped back, before The Last Post was played.

Following the proceedings, their royal highnesses visited the Wesley Community Centre – home to many community groups and a weekly market – where a group of dancers performed.

Both royals seemed particularly chipper, with the Prince spotted tapping his feet during the performance and Camilla delighted by a young girl who presented her with a necklace and a big hug.

The Prince presented The Queen’s Colour as recognition of the RNZAF’s achievements. It is the highest honour the Sovereign can present.
The Prince presented The Queen’s Colour as recognition of the RNZAF’s achievements. It is the highest honour the Sovereign can present.
The royal couple were welcomed to RNZAF Whenuapai with a Pōwhiri.
The royal couple were welcomed to RNZAF Whenuapai with a Pōwhiri.
The royals were then given a taste of the local wines at the Hunting Lodge Vineyard in the Waimauku, which has been run by the Sutton family since 2016.
The royals were then given a taste of the local wines at the Hunting Lodge Vineyard in the Waimauku, which has been run by the Sutton family since 2016.

At Critical Design, a social enterprise focused on achieving environmental sustainability, the Prince was jokingly offered a job after he was found to be 'quite good' at crafts using recyclable materials.

Next followed a wine tasting session at the Hunting Lodge Vineyard in Waimauku before the pair arrived at RNZAF Whenuapai to present the Queen's Colour.

The Colour is given as recognition of the RNZAF's achievements and is the highest honour a monarch can present.

'Her majesty is giving you her Colour in the knowledge you will guard it well,' the prince said.

He gave his 'heartfelt' wishes for the RNZAF's future endeavours and Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark expressed his gratitude.

Later in the Officers' Mess room, both Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall signed the RNZAF visitors book, while the prince signed the Queen's Colour Book pages.