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Prince William - Source: Reuters -
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Royal fever has hit Wellington on Monday as Prince William, the Queen's grandson and second in line for the throne, flew into the capital.
Followed by an entourage of up to 60 journalists and photographers mainly from Britain, Australia and New Zealand the prince will have a busy day in Wellington where he will represent the Queen at the opening of the new Supreme Court building.
The Prince arrived in Wellington just before 10am, with his first engagement being a wreath laying at the National War Memorial, before he headed on to the Supreme Court.
The prince arrived at the memorial around 10.10am, and stood on a podium while the military band played part of God Save the Queen. The air force, navy and army royal guard saluted him.
In the distance echoed a 21 gun salute fired from Government House as an expectant crowd of close to 100 people watched and whispered.
Walking with his arms behind his back and wearing a double-breasted suit, he reviewed two lines of troops.
Flanked by Prime Minister John Key and retired Rear Admiral David Ledson, and standing a head taller than both men, he was introduced to government ministers before making his way up to the memorial stairs and into the hall itself.
After chatting and shaking hands with more military officials he lead the procession into the War Memorial, past armed soldiers in the alcoves, to place a large poppy wreath at the base of a statue at the end of the hall.
Written on the wreath was: "In deep respect and grateful memory of the men and women of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives for New Zealand and for freedom."
Standing ridged and silent, and unmoving except for the occasional eye blink, he kept a solemn look on his face through the english and Maori prayers, music and a tolling bell.
Outside bystanders clicked their cameras - one woman having climbed a tree for a better vantage point - and children waved as he emerged from the memorial with a single rose held to his chest.
Prince William's flight had looked set to be delayed because of fog and mist and Wellington Airport.
However, the Air Force plane was able to get through the low cloud and land successfully.
Only one other flight had been able to land at the airport on Monday morning, with others diverted to Palmerston North Airport.
More than 1000 people have turned out to see the Prince who was escorted by police and royal security and accompanied by the Prime Minister John Key on the way to the Supreme Court.
William draped in a traditional flax-weave Maori cloak before being welcomed into the Supreme Court with a haka.
The new court, diagonally opposite Parliament, consists of two connected buildings - the 1881 High Court and the new, modern interpretation of it. Construction took just over two years and, at a cost of $80.7 million.
People stood on nearby rooftops to get a glimpse of Prince William.
One woman in Lambton Quay said the wait was worthwhile.
"You only get one opportunity to see him."
Eight-year-old Jacinda Mendoza from Upper Hutt was waiting with her grandmother with a bunch of flowers for the prince.
Another young girl, Melissa Moroney, saw him have the Maori cloak draped on him.
She said it was a "once in a life time opportunity to see him in the flesh. You can't really pass that up".
However protesters from the Republican Movement have also gathered to stage a demonstration.
Two MPs, Labour's Clare Curran and the Greens' Keith Locke, along with other advocates for New Zealand cutting its ties with the British monarchy, plan to unfurl a banner saying "It's Time For A Republic".
"We've told our supporters that this is all about a peaceful, positive protest," says Republican Movement president Lewis Holden.
"It's just us exercising our democratic rights."
Arrival in Auckland
The prince flew into Auckland at 11am Sunday and was greeted by Key and his wife Bronagh and Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand.
He visited Eden Park and was shown around the stadium by John Waller, chairman of the Eden Park Redevelopment Board, Key and Auckland Mayor John Banks, who briefed him on plans for the Rugby World Cup and redevelopment of the park.
A number of All Blacks, including Richie McCaw, Ali Williams and Dan Carter, were also on hand.
Williams told NZPA he thought people in New Zealand still cared
about the monarchy.
"I think they respect it. As players, we definitely respect it.
Prince William likes hanging out with the guys, but I think he's
after inside information," Williams joked.
"We don't give him much though," he added.
All Blacks captain McCaw said Prince William was just a "genuine bloke".
"I think Kiwis will be intrigued to see him in the country for the next couple of days. There's definitely a lot of respect there.
"It can't be easy being in the position he's in, but he handles himself amazingly well. Underneath all that stuff he has to deal with, he's just a genuine bloke you can have a yarn with," he says.
Prince William later went sailing on Waitemata Harbour on the America's Cup yacht NZL40, and last night attended a hangi at Government House.
He will leave for Australia on Tuesday.
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