Prince William arrives in New Zealand for three-day visit

WELLINGTON - Britain’s Prince William arrived Sunday in New Zealand to start a three-day visit, his first official solo tour representing his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The 27-year-old, who was dubbed “Prince Charming” by the media when he last visited the country to follow the British Lions’ Rugby tour in 2005, was welcomed by the queen’s representative in New Zealand, Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, when his private plane flew into Auckland.

Queen Elizabeth remains head of state of the former British colony, though New Zealand has been officially independent in every respect since 1947, and the governor-general’s role is largely ceremonial.

Republicans, who want New Zealand to cut all formal ties with the monarchy, have vowed to hold peaceful protests during the prince’s programme, which includes officially opening the building of the new supreme court that has replaced Britain’s Privy Council as the country’s highest court of appeal.

Meanwhile, a group called Monarchy New Zealand has welcomed the visit, with spokesman Simon O’Connor saying that making New Zealand the destination for the prince’s first official solo visit highlights the relevance of royal ties to the country.

Noel Cox, chairman of the Monarchist League of New Zealand, rejected criticism of the cost of the visit to taxpayers, saying the trip paid for itself in the value of tourist promotion it gave the country.

With more than 30 journalists accompanying him, New Zealand was advertised in the British press every time the trip was mentioned, he said.

“If we were going to pay for this kind of advertisement, it would cost a fortune.”

There is no large public demand for cutting royal ties, and successive prime ministers have said that while it is inevitable New Zealand will become a republic in time, governments are unlikely to act before there is a groundswell of opinion.

Opposition Green Party Member of Parliament Keith Locke has prepared a bill calling for a referendum on the issue, which he hopes will be debated in Parliament in March.

A keen rugby fan, Prince William’s first engagement was scheduled to be a visit to Auckland’s Eden Park stadium, where matches in the World Cup, which New Zealand will host next year, will be played.