Royals to visit Dunedin and Queenstown

William and Kate are bringing baby George to New Zealand and Australia in April.  (Photo by John...
William and Kate are bringing baby George to New Zealand and Australia in April. (Photo by John Stillwell/WPA-Pool/Getty Images)
Prince George will be in tow as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit New Zealand - but will not be with them when they travel to Dunedin and Queenstown.

William and Kate will visit Auckland and seven other centres after they arrive on April 7,  Kensington Palace has announced.

Details of the royal visit, including the dates of the visit and events they will be attending, were announced in London overnight by Kensington Palace.

The Duke and Duchess will be based at Government House in Wellington but will also visit Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Blenheim.

Prince George will stay at Government House.

On April 13 William and Kate will travel south without their son to be greeted by representatives of Ngai Tahu in Dunedin before attending a Palm Sunday Service at the Cathedral Church of St Paul.

The Cambridges will then travel to Forsyth Barr Stadium for a festival of Rippa Rugby with local youngsters and All Blacks players.

They will then fly to Queenstown to visit the Amisfield vineyard to sample local wines and take a jetboat ride on the Shotover River. The couple will stay overnight at a local hotel. 

The royals will leave for Australia on April 16.

The Queen has to give permission for it to happen and Her Majesty has given permission for it to happen,'' Prince William's private secretary Miguel Head told reporters in London.

"Indeed, Prince William travelled with his parents when he was a very similar age to New Zealand and Australia back in 1983, so there is precedent for this.''

After touring New Zealand the royal family will visit Sydney, Brisbane, Uluru, Adelaide and Canberra. Melbourne, most notably, misses out, AAP reported.

The royal itinerary: Where the Duke, Duchess and Prince George will visit on their tour of New Zealand

Monday April 7: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George arrive in Wellington on Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft. Ceremonial welcome at Government House including a powhiri, guard of honour and 21 gun salute.

Tuesday April 8: Day of leisure for family after 25-hour flight.

Wednesday April 9: Engagement to recognise work of the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society at Government House.

Thursday April 10: Wreath-laying and Commemoration, War Memorial, Blenheim, attended by veterans and senior politicians. Then onto the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre for the Knights of the Sky exhibition and WWI vehicle and aircraft display with Sir Peter Jackson. Meeting with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in Wellington and State Reception given by Governor General at Government House. Prince William to give first speech of the tour and unveil a portrait of The Queen.

Friday April 11: William and Kate fly to Auckland for a visit to the RNZAF at Whenaupai, home to more than a thousand service personnel. The couple will also celebrate New Zealand's Americas Cup winning teams by joining a yacht race on 'his and hers' boats before boarding a 'Sealegs' amphibious craft in the harbour and travel to Westpark Marina before returning home to George.

Saturday April 12: The Duke and Duchess travel to the Waikato where William will visit the Pacific Aerospace company at Hamilton Airport, viewing the P-750 aircraft. Kate will attend the Rainbow Place children's hospice.

The couple will then travel together to the town of Cambridge to pay their respects at their war memorial and then onto the new national velodrome, the Avantidrome, to meet the country's recent Olympic medallists. They will start a number of races and view a BMX display.

Sunday April 13: The couple's first night away from George on a trip to Dunedin. William and Kate will be greeted by representatives of Ngai Tahu before attending a Palm Sunday Service at the Cathedral Church of St Paul.

The Cambridges will then travel to Forsyth Barr Stadium for a festival of Rippa Rugby with local youngsters and All Blacks stars.

They will then fly to Queenstown to visit the Amisfield vineyard to sample local wines and food before experiencing a 50mph jet-boating expedition through the canyons of the Shotover River. The couple will stay overnight at a local hotel.

Monday April 14: The couple fly to Christchurch to pay tribute to the 185 lives lost in the 2011 earthquake. They will be greeted with a Ngai Tahu welcome and then tour the CBD.

They will also attend an event to celebrate the coming of the 2015 Cricket World Cup to the region and then travel to the Wigram Air Force Museum to view the city's rebuilding plans and attend a chamber of commerce business lunch.

Before they leave, William and Kate will view the Memorial Wall dedicated to those in the air force who have died in service of their country.

Tuesday April 15: William, Kate and George will spend the day together privately ahead of the Australian leg of their trip.

Wednesday April 16: The couple will visit the Royal New Zealand Police College outside Wellington, opened by Prince Charles 30 years ago, where they will acknowledge the sacrifice of the 29 officers killed in service. They will view several demonstrations including dog handling.

William and Kate will then sign a visitors book back in Wellington and say farewell to members of the public before embarking with George on the three hour flight to Australia.

 

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