Prince Charles and Camilla will land at Wellington Airport's military terminal about 2.20pm today. Photo / Getty Images
Prince Charles and Camilla will land at Wellington Airport's military terminal about 2.20pm today. Photo / Getty Images
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are touching down on New Zealand soil this afternoon, with their seven-day tour starting in the capital.
The focus of their visit would be largely on communities and culture.
Prince Charles and Camilla will land at Wellington Airport's military terminal about 2.20pm today. They will be greeted by Prime Minister John Key and Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
They will then make then their way via Oriental Parade to Government House, where they will be officially welcomed by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.
The welcome will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. The royals will also unveil a commonwealth walkway plaque.
The wreath laying ceremony, from 4.10pm, will be the main opportunity for the public to see the the royals today.
Their last engagement of the day will be back at Government House, where a state reception will be held from 6.15pm.
To mark the royal visit to the National War Memorial, the New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) will gift Camilla a diamante crystal studded poppy brooch.
The gold-plated and enamel brooch is emblazoned with 101 scarlet diamante crystals. RSA national president Barry "BJ" Clark said the Duchess of Cornwall had a personal connection to World War I and the brooch would have special meaning.
"The Duchess has a very personal connection to the huge loss of life in the Great War, having written movingly about how three of her great uncles, her grandfather's brothers, were killed within six weeks of each other at the Battle of the Somme," he said.
The RSA would also gift Prince Charles a poppy tie designed by New Zealand designer Dame Trelise Cooper.
The brooch is made by the same company that produces the RSA poppy pins.
The RSA will be gifting Camilla a poppy brooch in Wellington. Photo / Supplied
The royal visit coincides with the return of New Zealand's rugby royalty - and the Prime Minister says the Prince and Duchess could possibly meet the All Blacks to "join in on the celebrations".
On TVNZ's Breakfast show this morning, Mr Key said they could "shake up the itinerary to share the limelight".
"It's subject to their diary. Obviously these things get planned [for] months and months so it's pretty difficult to change and alter their schedules," he said.
Mr Key said the visit was important as Prince Charles would one day become the King of New Zealand.
"It's really important he has that relationship with New Zealand and establish a rapport."
He said the Queen had asked about the highly debated flag change when Mr Key was in England for the World Cup.
"She asked about the process and I showed a couple of them. She's actively engaged," he said.
The royal visit has been met dimly by the New Zealand Republic, a group pushing for the nation to move away from a constitutional monarchy and instead establish a local head of state.
New Zealand Republic chairman Savage, who goes by only one name, said although New Zealand's ties with the British were important, New Zealand should have a head of state who stood as an equal to Britain's head of state.
"Becoming a republic would modernise our diplomatic relationship with the UK, and members of the British royal family would still visit as part of reciprocal visits between New Zealand and the UK," he said.
He said the current visits were popular with "royal watchers but don't do much for the rest of New Zealand".
Tomorrow, Prince Charles will visit Wellington's Tawa College to see musical performances and sport demonstrations, while the Duchess will visit Te Whaea to meet drama and dance students.
