Raining royals forced Down Under cover on Kiwi tour leg

Camilla took a holiday before the trip began but has still had to contend with crossing time zones and spending many hours in the air as the royal couple flew to Singapore via scheduled flights and then travelled with the Royal New Zealand Air Force to Wellington.

Peter MacDonald said he’s also hoping to get a portrait of the two royals today.

A New Zealand woman had a brush with royal security after grabbing and kissing Prince Charles.

The royals dissolved into fits of laughter when a bumble bee first headed for Camilla and then Charles, and flew up his double-breasted jacket.

In what may have felt like an eternity to Charles, but was actually only a few seconds, the bee eventually flew away to his very visible relief.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have touched down in New Zealand. I believe that’s the last remaining member of the Rhynchocephalia order, which is such an ancient creature.

Conservation manager Elton Smith, who was taking Charles and Camilla round the sanctuary, joked afterwards about the bee: “That’s a good sign of a healthy eco-system”.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has also sparked a debate on national symbols by calling a referendum on changing the flag, which features a Union Jack in the corner.

But the Queen has not visited the country, where she is head of state, since 2002.

They arrive the same day as the victorious All Blacks.

LESLEY Hayde, who moved to Dunedin from the United Kingdom more than 40 years ago, was among the hundreds of locals who waited patiently outside the southern city’s railway station to catch a glimpse of the visiting royals on Thursday afternoon.

“When he came out I shouted “give us a kiss Charlie”, the 69-year-old, originally from Yorkshire, told reporters.

Before their arrival, Prince Charles praised New Zealand for giving everyone in the United Kingdom “so much sporting prowess and excitement” in the Rugby World Cup.

Charles is patron of the Campaign for Wool – an initiative that promotes the wool industry in a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand – and for the occasion, was dressed in a grey wool suit in his trademark double breasted style.

Later the Duchess was entertained by dance students who performed the l9th century ballet called Paquita and ballet students presented Camilla with a bouquet of pink roses and pear leaves.