The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended an official welcome ceremony on Tuesday morning at Government House in Auckland, to mark the first engagement on day two of the royal couple’s six-day tour of Aotearoa.
Greeted by the Kaumātua and Kuia, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were welcomed with a wero, karanga and haka performed by the NZ Defence Force.
Following the formal welcome Prince Charles inspected the Guard, before holding separate private meetings with the leader of the Opposition Party and the Prime Minister, as is customary during an official royal visit.
With Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern famously gifting The Duke and Duchess of Sussex a Shapeshifter album during their royal tour of New Zealand last year, it’s safe to say we were eager to hear what her gift to Prince Harry’s father was, and while not as quirky this time around, it was certainly fitting.
Following her private meeting, the Prime Minister revealed to the press she’d given the future King “a couple of personal gifts” which included “planting 10 native trees on his behalf, given his interest in forestry and the restoration of native forest.
“I thought it would be a fitting gift,” she said.
“So there will be 10 trees out there in his name.”
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition party, Simon Bridges revealed he’d chosen a gift from his Tauranga electorate while talking with Breakfast‘s Hayley Holt this morning – a pot of honey from the pohutukawa trees of the Mount Maunganui golf club.
When Hayley comments it must have cost him a “pretty penny”, the National Party leader replies: “Actually I think it was $13, but don’t tell anyone!”
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla’s welcome at Government House marked another busy day of engagements for the royal couple who made their way to the Auckland Harbour to see the America’s Cup, of which Emirates Team New Zealand are the current defending champions.
The royals also met with the public during a walkabout at Wynyard Quarter and Prince Charles met with Sea Cleaners, a group of volunteers who have teamed up with the Royal NZ Navy to clear plastic from the coastal waters around New Zealand and took a ride on the Sea Cleaners’ ‘plastic patrol’ boat.
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla undertook a public walkabout in Auckland one Tuesday. (Image: Getty)
Duchess Camilla also undertook solo engagements on Tuesday, attending a roundtable discussion organised by Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday (SHINE), an organisation which supports victims of domestic abuse through a helpline, crisis advocacy and two women’s refuges in Auckland.
Raising awareness for charities which support families affected by domestic abuse is one of the key focuses of Camilla’s work.
Shine’s general manager Jane Drumm said the duchess was interested in meeting with organisations and finding out about the work that they do in New Zealand, reports Stuff.
“Here in New Zealand we have a huge problem,” she said.
“Our statistics are absolutely shocking and I’m just really pleased that Her Royal Highness understands the importance of this and is using her ability to attract interest to highlight the issue.
“To be a New Zealander is to know someone or be someone who has been affected by family violence.”
On Tuesday evening Prince Charles and Camilla made their way back to Government House to attend a reception hosted by the Governor-General, to conclude their second day of engagements.
The previous day was just as jam-packed with the couple attending a wreath-laying at the Mount Roskill Memorial and meeting with organisations and members of the local community at the Wesley Community Centre.
WATCH: 5 of the best moments from Day 1 of Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla’s NZ Royal Tour. Story continues below…
The royal couple also attended a wine tasting at Hunting Lodge Vineyard before Prince Charles presented the Royal NZ Air Force with a replacement Queen’s Colour, on behalf of his mother The Queen, who personally presented the original back in 1953, at the same spot at the Whenuapai airbase.
Today the royal couple travel to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds at the Bay of Islands where they’ll begin day three of their royal visit.
