Royal tour Down Under prepares way for King Charles: PM
WELLINGTON — Prince Charles arrived in
New Zealand on Wednesday for a tour that Prime Minister John Key said
would help the British heir “establish a rapport” with Kiwis before he
inherits the throne from his ageing mother.
Charles and wife Camilla flew into Wellington for a
seven-day visit that will be followed by six days in Australia, another
former colony that keeps the British monarch as head of state.
Key greeted the heir to the throne at Wellington airport
but a traditional Maori welcome from tattooed warriors at Government
House was cancelled amid heavy rain and strong winds.
However, Charles was able to visit New Zealand’s National War Memorial, where he laid a wreath and chatted with veterans.
The extensive tour takes the royal couple to the North and South islands, including New Plymouth, Dunedin and Auckland.
It is also relatively unusual, given Charles and Camilla
last visited only three years ago for celebrations marking Queen
Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Key said the 89-year-old Queen was unlikely to ever make
the grueling trip from Britain to New Zealand again, commenting: “In
reality it’s a very long haul for her.”
He said that meant other royals were taking up her commitments, particularly Charles, since he was first in line for the crown.
“Prince Charles will one day be king of New Zealand,” Key
told TVNZ. “So it’s really important that he does have that relationship
with New Zealand, that he establishes a rapport and people get to know
him.”
If Charles does become king, as expected, he will be
monarch of both Australia and New Zealand, which were once part of the
empire but are now independent.
The British crown’s power is seen as largely symbolic, and
while Queen Elizabeth II enjoys strong personal popularity in both
countries, some see the monarchy itself as a colonial relic.
Key is an ardent monarchist but has nonetheless led calls
for New Zealand to drop Britain’s Union Jack from the corner of the
national flag in favor of a more Kiwi-inspired banner.
He denied the issue, which will be determined in a
referendum next March, would be an awkward conversation topic during
Charles and Camilla’s visit.
“I don’t think they’re worried about the flag,” he
said. In Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a staunch
republican, has said he believes the country will revisit the issue of
becoming a republic when the Queen dies.
Charles and Camilla will visit a Wellington drama school
on Thursday then travel to Dunedin for a trip on the scenic Taieri Gorge
Railway.
Key said the royal couple were also keen to personally
congratulate the All Blacks on their recent Rugby World Cup win,
schedules permitting.
“There’s no question they’d like to meet up with them,
they obviously can see what a big deal it is for New Zealand and how
celebrated they will be,” he told TV3. — AFP
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