Editorial: Royals giving us joy

People either love or hate the royals. Photo/File

The royal family is a bit like Marmite for some people - you either love them or hate them.

But has the visit of Wills, Kate and baby George swayed your views at all?

Around here, even those who claimed to have no interest were sneakily checking out the photos as they stepped off the plane on Monday.

Kate's coat, the silver fern brooch, her looking so impossibly gorgeous - and of course the undeniably cute George. I'm no royalist but I will admit I was - and am - interested.

Perhaps it comes from living in the UK throughout most of William and Kate's courtship. On the day of their wedding I sat in a London flat among a room full of fascinator-wearing Kiwis, waving our British flags and drinking bubbly.

There's no doubt William, his wife and brother Prince Harry have sparked a renewed interest in the royals, in the UK and around the world. No matter your views on the monarchy or the idea of being born into a position of privilege, the new generation of royals seem more in touch and committed to using their positions to 'do good'.

Personally, I think it's great they are here - it has and will bring joy to thousands of Kiwis who manage to catch a glimpse or are lucky enough to shake a royal hand. And what's so wrong with that?

The closest the royals will get to Rotorua this time is when they visit Cambridge on Saturday. We've heard of several Rotorua people planning to make the trip across for a bit of royal spotting and I wish them good luck and hope they have a blast.

I won't be there but I'll no doubt be admiring Kate's latest outfit over my toast and Marmite.