Britain’s Prince William has hailed Australia as an "enormously attractive" place to live.
The 31-year-old royal, who is in the midst of an 11-day royal tour of the country with his wife Duchess Catherine, offered a glowing review of his host country while dining with the Australian prime minister Tony Abbott at a reception held at Parliament House in Canberra today (24.04.14).
Speaking at the reception, William said: "This is a country that is in the front rank internationally.
"Australia has a quality of life and a level of excellence that makes it a magnet – an enormously attractive place to live, trade, invest, and indeed just visit."
The prince and his 32-year-old wife – who are joined by their adorable nine-month-old tot Prince George in Australia – were treated to a performance by Australian singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu at the reception, where they also mingled with guests that included politicians, war heroes, fashion designers and Olympic athletes.
William declared there was "so much to admire" about Australia following their trek across the country and paid tribute to the indigenous aboriginal people of the country.
He is quoted by BBC News as saying: "Catherine and I acknowledge the timeless values of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"They have been the custodians of this ancient and majestic continent for thousands of years. The traditional owners’ stories, and the magnificent and moving rock art at Uluru, which we saw for ourselves, are a priceless inheritance.
"They tell us not just about the past but provide a precious vision for the future."
Prince William hails Australia
