02/11/2009

William's First Overseas Royal Visit

Prince William will carry out his first official royal tour of New Zealand next year, it has been announced.

The 27-year-old prince will represent the Queen during the visit in January.

Clarence House said William would go to Auckland and Wellington, where he will open the new supreme court building on behalf of the Monarch.

William was last in New Zealand four years ago as part of the British Lions' rugby tour.

An unofficial visit to Australia will also be made in the new year. The prince last toured the country with his parents as an infant.

He will visit Sydney and Melbourne during a three-day trip to Australia.

The prince will focus on issues affecting the nation's Aboriginals and see the countryside near Melbourne, which was ravaged by wildfires earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.

He added that the second-in-line to the throne "will have the opportunity to meet a cross-section of Australians involved in a variety of projects of interest".

Meanwhile, William's father the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, will today arrive in Canada as part of an 11 day tour.

It is the prince's fifteenth visit to Canada and the duchess's first.

It involves a busy itinerary aimed at meeting a cross section of Canadians, including young people, charity and voluntary workers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces as well as the general public.

The royal couple will visit 12 cities in four provinces, including stops in St John's, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Victoria and Vancouver.

(PR/BMcC)

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