William wins sick kids' hearts

Prince William won the hearts of some sick and injured kids this morning when he visited Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland.

Accompanied by two members of the Lions rugby team, the prince chatted with patients and their parents at the hospital.

He visited some of the wards and spent half an hour in the hospital's atrium with about 15 children.

The prince, Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll -- who had his arm in a sling from a playing injury -- and tour manager Bill Beaumont sat with the children, signed autographs and posed for pictures.

They were watched by hospital staff and surrounded by a huge pack of photographers and reporters who have followed the prince during his New Zealand trip.

Dressed in a navy blue jacket with tie and khaki trousers, Prince William spent about five minutes talking with each of the children and their parents.

Patient Michael Nock said the prince had talked to him about the Lions-All Blacks test series in New Zealand and asked about his appendix operation.

"My life's complete now I've seen Prince William, he's a nice man," Michael said.

Car accident victim Brendan Kroon said he would keep the plaster cast on his arm that the prince had signed.

Brendan said he could not wait to tell family and friends about meeting the royal.

But four-year-old pneumonia patient Vincent Guttenbeil-Pouhila did not know who the prince was and showed more interest in the media pack.

"He was lovely, he was really nice," Vincent's mother Yvette said of the prince.

The prince's next stop was a luncheon with the All Blacks at a city hotel and he planned to watch the Lions play Auckland tonight.

- AAP