KEY POINTS:
The stresses of touring New Zealand in 1981 - shortly before his wedding to Lady Diana Spencer - weighed heavily on Prince Charles, it has been revealed.
The Prince wrote to friends at the time that if "one more New Zealand child asks me what it's like to be a prince, I shall go demented", the Guardian newspaper reported yesterday.
The heir to the throne added: "Will you visit me when they strap me in a white apron and deposit me in some institution? I am beginning to get fed up with the amount of nonsensical rubbish I take all day and everyday."
The report was published on the eve of Princess Anne's arrival in Christchurch today to represent her father, Prince Philip, at the 23rd Commonwealth Agricultural Conference.
She will present the award for the Royal Agricultural Society supreme champion animal today, and tomorrow will present the New Zealand Cup at the Riccarton race meeting.
In a BBC fly-on-the-wall documentary screened on Wednesday night in Britain to mark his 60th birthday, Prince Charles was asked if he enjoyed the job.
He replied: "I don't know. Well, there's bits of it."
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the Prince continued: "It is something that I feel I must do - to help as many other people as I possibly can in this country."
He talked about his hopes that Prince William and Prince Harry would maintain his legacy by continuing his charitable work when he becomes King.
He also lavished praise on his mother, the Queen, for her commitment to her public duty.
- NZPA
