In his nine official tours of New Zealand, Charles III – as the Prince of Wales – has travelled the length and breadth of the country meeting people from all walks of life.
As well as the major cities, he’s been to Nelson, Napier, Ngāruawāhia, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Feilding, Westport, Kaikōura, Whanganui, Masterton and Gisborne, to name but a few towns and cities. Along the way, he’s shorn sheep, showed off his dancing skills, toured businesses and charities, watched dozens of performances, laid wreaths, given speeches and shaken innumerable hands.
There have been those who have been very excited to see him – like the man in Levin so eager to catch a glimpse of the prince in 1981 that he climbed a tree and then fell out – and those less enamoured. In 1994, an anti-royalist was tackled to the ground by police after he tried to spray Charles with a can of air freshener.
Charles’ first visit was in 1970, aged 21, with his parents the Queen and Prince Philip, and his sister Princess Anne. Four years later, the foursome were back (with Anne’s new husband Mark Phillips) to attend the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch.
His first solo tour was in 1981 (he attended the funeral of Prime Minister Norman Kirk in September 1974, but that’s not counted as a tour), just a couple of months before marrying Lady Diana Spencer.
The then Prince and Princess of Wales caused a frenzy when they visited in 1983 with 10-month old Prince William. One of the highlights of that tour was the iconic photo session on the lawn of Government House, with Charles sitting next to his wife on a blanket, while their baby son played with a gifted Buzzy Bee toy.
When we next saw Charles in 1994, he was separated from Diana. His following tour, in 2005, came just weeks before he married his second wife, now Queen Camilla. Despite not being a keen flyer, Camilla has made the trip out here with her husband in 2012, 2015 and 2019.
These days, the crowds tend to be smaller than in the ’70s and ’80s, but those who do turn out enjoy the chance to see royalty up close.
“It’s nice of them to make the effort to come all this way,” said Susie Kynoch, who got to talk to Charles and Camilla on a walkabout in Auckland in 2015.
Decked out in waterproof gear while at sea in Christchurch in 1981.
The Queen and Prince Philip were joined by Charles and Anne on their first tour in 1970.
Chatting to schoolgirls.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are officially welcomed to New Zealand at Eden Park, April 1983.
A waka ride at Waitangi.
The proud parents show off a buzzing William.
Well-wishers in Palmerston North congratulate Charles on his upcoming wedding in 1981.
Chukka Charles! The keen polo player in action in Clevedon.
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are treated to a pōwhiri during a visit to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 2019 as part of an eight-day tour – their third joint visit to Aotearoa.
Charles has a close encounter at the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin during a five-day tour in 2005.
Charles takes in the view during a coastal walk in Kaiko¯ura in 2019.
Spellbinding! The prince has a magical meeting with Christchurch’s Wizard in 2019.
Ewe beauty! Handy with the clippers at the Moutere Sheep Station in Alexandra.
Charming a Wellington crowd in 2005.
