The Prince of Wales has revealed he was cheering on New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup last weekend, just days before he is due to fly across the ditch on his royal tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking at an official state reception at Wellington’s Government House yesterday evening, Prince Charles revealed he was “so relieved” that the All Blacks had won, as he had been “slightly anxious” about what he would find on his visit to New Zealand if the team had lost.
“By the time we get to Australia, hopefully they will have got over it,” he continued, causing the crowd to break into laughter.
“Secretly I did think they were going to win all the time. How they do it, I don’t know. It’s a great demonstration of sporting prowess,” he went on.
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are currently on New Zealand shores for a week-long royal visit around the country. They continued with their jam-packed itinerary today, stopping by Wellington’s Tawa College and dance and drama school Te Whaea and Toi Whakaari before travelling onwards to Dunedin.
Charles and Camilla greet their welcoming party at Mosgiel Station. Photo: Twitter
Charles was welcomed with a fearsome haka at Tawa College, where he spent time touring the music unit, computer lab and sports gym. Meanwhile, Camilla received a royal reception at Te Whaea, where a group of students performed for the Duchess.
“You’d think there’d be a massive aura of royalty around her, but she looked just like a normal person, just well put together!” first-year Toi Whakaari student Jess Quilter told Woman’s Day.
“For Camilla to have an interest in the arts is great because she’s a powerful person creating an awareness of an art form we all love.”
The royal pair have since moved on to Dunedin, touching down at the airport around 1pm before travelling via railway through the scenic Taieri Gorge. They will remain in New Zealand until next Tuesday, when they will depart for Australia.
