Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid their respects to New Zealand’s war dead.
The royal couple laid a wreath in a service at Blenheim’s war memorial before meeting with some of the 5,000 people who had turned out to welcome Prince William and Duchess Catherine to the country’s South Island.
Though the pair were not joined by their son Prince George, eight months, they were happy to chat to well-wishers about their little boy, with William joking he hoped the baby’s teething wasn’t causing problems at their temporary home of Government House in Wellington.
Annette Michna-Konigstorfer said: "I asked him how his kid was and he said he hopes he’s not chewing everything at Government House. William was fantastic and wonderful – I love all the Royal Family."
Jan Cross, 55, who emigrated to New Zealand from Britain seven years ago, was jokingly asked by the prince if she wanted to babysit the little boy when she enquired whether he had enjoyed his first official engagement yesterday (09.04.14), in which he joined a number of local babies for a coffee morning.
Jan said: "I said ‘is George OK?’ and William said ‘yes’ and I asked if he enjoyed himself at Plunket and he said he had.
"Then he said ‘you can do some babysitting for us if you like’. I would love to help out with George for the day."
William and Catherine were given a number of gifts by the crowd, including a teddy bear, a friendship bracelet from a little boy – which the prince immediately put on – and a pair of brown booties for their son.
Zella Vile, who knitted the booties, said: "It took me just a day to make them, it’s my hobby. I just thought George is lovely and I’ll make something for him."
William thanked her and said: "These will fit him quite well."
Prince William and Duchess Catherine honour war dead
