One excited royal follower managed to get up close and personal with the Prince of Wales in Dunedin yesterday, planting a kiss on his cheek.
Lesley Hayde (69), of Dunedin, was among the fans lined up outside the Dunedin Railway Station, all hoping to share a moment with Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, during their visit to the city.
Mrs Hayde was one of the lucky ones.
As the Royal couple walked along the barrier, shaking hands and thanking people for their kind words and gestures, Mrs Hayde, draped in Union Jack flags, managed to grab the Prince in a bear-hug and plant a wet kiss on his cheek.
''I shouted, 'Charlie, Charlie, give us a kiss' and he said: 'I don't know whether we should kiss','' Mrs Hayde said.
''So I just grabbed him and gave him a kiss. And then I kissed Camilla. That's a great nearly 70th birthday that. It was brilliant.''
Mrs Hayde, who has been in New Zealand 48 years after emigrating from Yorkshire, said a ''strong arm'' gripped her soon after she grabbed the Prince, but still she managed to kiss the Duchess.
''I can't believe I got so close. I can't believe I kissed him,'' she said.
Mrs Hayde had seen the Queen but had not got that close to her.
''I don't think I would have kissed the Queen,'' she said.
