Whanganui woman Merenia Donne was up at 4am to drive to New Plymouth in the hope of meeting Prince Charles and his wife Camilla. With her was Rica, the canine companion who has helped her since her head injury.
Ms Donne is the founder of the Kotuku Foundation Assistance Animals Aotearoa. Most of the foundation's animals help people with life threatening conditions - such as people with diabetes who can go into shock if their blood sugar gets too low.
She was especially hoping to meet Camilla, who is the patron of a similar organisation in the United Kingdom, Medical Detection Dogs. She knows the duchess likes dogs and had met the couple in Feilding a few years ago.
So it was a great thrill when Camilla made a beeline for her and the dog. She accepted Ms Donne's gift of photographs and Rica attempted to shake hands with her.
The royal pair remembered Ms Donne and had time for a quick chat.