WHAT A TREATY Charles & Camilla’s historic visit
THE ROYALS EMBARK ON A CHARM OFFENSIVE IN AOTEAROA
It may well have been just what the doctor ordered. The Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, touched down in New Zealand last Sunday in what was most likely a reprieve of sorts, for Charles especially.
The royal pair left behind ongoing turmoil that has been enveloping the royal family for weeks − younger brother Prince Andrew has dominated every newspaper’s front page in the wake of his tell-all TV interview, while daughter-in-law Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has generated headlines after the release of court documents from her legal stoush against Associated Newspapers.
While the change of scenery wasn’t so welcoming to begin with, grey skies soon lifted as Charles (71) and Camilla (72) arrived in Whenuapai to start their week-long trip – their first in four years and third joint visit to our nation. And while they didn’t draw the crowds we’ve seen some of the younger members of the royal family generate in previous years, there was still no shortage of eager fans to pass on their well-wishes.
The visit also served as a chance for the pair to highlight causes close to their hearts – Camilla championing the causes of youth, women’s rights and domestic violence, while Charles largely focused on environmental issues.
But their most highly anticipated engagement was without a doubt a visit north to Waitangi – the first time a royal has visited the treaty grounds in 25 years.
After a stirring formal welcome onto the grounds the couple, who were wearing korowai, listened to a series of speeches, mostly in te reo, which were translated for them.
The pair laughed as Maori leader, broadcaster and actor Waihoroi Shortland recounted, in English, his encounters over the years with members of the royal family.
He recalled being at an event in Eden Park in the 1970s attended by Charles, his sister
Princess Anne, the Queen and Prince Philip but pointed out that “if you look in the pages of the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly” he and the warriors there were “already trying out the unknown pastime of that day of taking selfies. But we took them with your sister, the Princess Royal.”
In his speech, Charles spoke about our country’s commitment to resolving issues stemming from the Treaty of Waitangi and also said he was delighted to return a korowai that had been given to his great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria in 1863 by a Ngaˉ Puhi chief.
“It’s been cared for in the United Kingdom for 156 years and it gives me great pleasure that it can make the journey back to where it was created.”
The duchess wore a blue silk, crepe suit by Anna Valentine under her korowai and opted to go without a hat after she struggled to connect noses when greeted with a hongi at the official Auckland welcome.
Several hundred people gathered in the sunshine to witness the couple’s visit, and were thrilled to shake hands with Charles and Camilla when
they went on an unscheduled walkabout after the formal part of proceedings finished.
Chris Coakley, who waited with a group of friends for three hours, was delighted she got to shake the prince’s hand. “It was a great opportunity to see them up close, which doesn’t happen very often. He seemed very relaxed, although he was a bit concerned that some children standing next to us weren’t in school.”
Charles and Camilla seemed quite taken with a group of three and four-year-olds from Paihia Early Childhood Centre too, who waited patiently to see the royals. The youngsters were rewarded with handshakes and a brief chat, however some of them weren’t entirely sure who they’d just met.
“It was Prince Charming,” proclaimed one littlie, while at Kerikeri Primary School later that day another youngster excitedly called out, “It’s the Queen!” when Camilla delayed her departure to walk over to them and shake a few more hands.
Then, instead of getting in her car as her security team were expecting, the duchess made a beeline for Maureen Moir and her grandson Austin, who were standing off to one side. “There’s my little friend,” she said, remembering that Austin had earlier presented her with flowers.
Camilla had been at the Kerikeri school to find out about its involvement in the Garden to Table scheme, where pupils grow vegetables and fruit and then learn how to cook them.
While there, she also got to meet reading therapy dog Meg, who comes into classes twice a week so children who struggle with reading can read to the retrodoodle.
“The children find it easier to read to a dog than people because there is no judgment, and she is also a calming influence,” confirms Meg’s owner Jannetta Wilmer.
Camilla patted Meg as Liam Curtis (9) read to her. His mum Kristen believes Meg has made a huge difference to her son’s reading abilities.
The duchess was also gifted three copies of Sam and the Reading Dog, a book written about Meg, and how she helps children. Author Richard Ward says it’s great to know that the duchess is planning on giving the books to her grandchildren.
Before heading north, the prince met with both the Leader of the Opposition, Simon
Bridges, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Auckland’s Government House. Charles shared a laugh with the PM, thanking her for her time, to which she said it was simply her duty, before they continued their conversation in private.
The prince and duchess also rubbed shoulders with NZ’s elite at an official reception hosted by Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy later that evening. Opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, fashion queens Dame Trelise Cooper and Denise L’Estrange-Corbet, sporting hero Rob Waddell, playwright Sir Roger Hall, businessman Sir Stephen Tindall and children’s TV presenter Suzy Cato were all on the star-studded guest-list.
The duchess was the standout at the event, changing from the elegant, cream Anne
Valentine dress she had worn during the day into a stylish navy blue jumpsuit with white piping.
But for Charles and Camilla the trip was less about hobnobbing with famous Kiwis, and instead about meeting everyday heroes.
Their itinerary was created with many occasions to do so as well, including a public walkabout through Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. There, the couple charmed the crowd, who often asked after Camilla’s health given she was unable to attend Remembrance Sunday events in the UK due to a chest infection. She assured wellwishers she was “feeling better” and thanked “kind” fans who told her she would “make a great Queen”.
Royal enthusiast Hope Smith makes a point of seeing as many of Britain’s famous family as she can when they come to our shores, and has ticked Charles and Camilla off her list for a second time. She’s also seen Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan.
“This time I got to shake hands with them [Charles and Camilla], which was lovely,” says Hope, who took along a Union Jack to wave.
Standing out from the crowd in his white helmet and bright red vintage Victorian army uniform was a royalist who goes by the name of Major Blunder.
He made the trip up to Auckland from Hamilton and was pleased to get a spot at the front of the barrier.
“They both stopped to talk to me – His Highness asked about my hat, and the duchess asked about my badge,” he says, of the pin that proclaims him to be a member of the Fifth Waikato Dragoons Regiment.
The major says he’s a big fan of the royals, the Queen in particular, and thinks they
do a wonderful job. “Charles will make a good king, assuming he outlives his mum of course. I think he and Camilla make a good pair. Theirs is an actual love story.”
While in Auckland, the royal duo made time to enjoy a tipple at The Hunting Lodge winery in Waimauku, just north of the city. Denise Sutton, who owns the winery with husband Brent, says the conversation quickly turned to the terrible weather, but Charles wasn’t too fazed.
“He said, ‘Never mind, it’s good for the gardens.’”
Denise says it came as a surprise to get an email several months ago proposing the royal visit while Charles and Camilla were in New Zealand.
“We’re not sure why they chose us,” muses Denise.
“It might be something to do with the fact that we have permaculture gardens and we try to do things as sustainably as possible. I know that is something Charles is very interested in. All our food scraps are composted and the cardboard we use gets turned into mulch.”
Menus at The Hunting Lodge restaurant are based on what’s seasonal in the on-site gardens, with this “pasture to plate” approach explained to the prince and duchess, who also had a go at blending their own Crown Blend wine. Denise says both Charles and Camilla were very warm and friendly.
“They were both so downto-earth. It felt like you could sit down with them and have a really good chat. I wish we’d had more time to do that.”
Charles seemed taken with the couple’s granddaughter Kennedy Pritchard (16 months), who was persuaded to blow him a kiss as he departed.
The following day Camilla immersed herself in causes dear to her, first visiting one of the country’s largest domestic violence organisations, Shine.
As she toured the offices and spoke with staff, the duchess commended them on their efforts to change society for the better. She also shared her own reflections about the blight of family violence in the UK.
“I sat down and listened to some of their stories and I was horrified,” she said of meeting with similar organisations back home. “Hopefully we can up the ante and raise awareness.”
Shine – which stands for
Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday – general manager Jane Drumm says she’s pleased the duchess understands the importance of the issue in NZ and is using her position to highlight the issue.
“To be a New Zealander is to know someone or be someone who has been affected by family violence,” she laments.
A 52-year-old mother who suffered abuse for more than two decades at the hands of a violent partner, and now works at the organisation, shared her experiences with the royal. And though there was much talk of our nation’s shameful rate of domestic violence, the duchess spoke of her optimism and hope at what is being done by organisations such as Shine.
“She said she finds that NZ is really leading the way in putting the message out there and leading the way in this topic,” the survivor says. “She was really rapt she had found us.”
Camilla later attended a high tea during a ‘think-in’ for international organisation Women of the World, where 40 female guests talked about their passions and ideas to make the world a better place for both women and men.
She gave a short speech, noting how poignant it was to be discussing the plight of women while in New Zealand.
“As we all know, 126 years ago this was the first country where women won the right to vote. It’s had three [female] prime ministers and three [female] governor generals. Where better to hear about women in the world?”
The duchess listened intently as a number of attendees gave speeches, including Rural Women New Zealand national president Fiona Gower, who spoke of the isolation, sexism and increased occurrences of family violence experienced by women living in rural NZ.
The youngest speaker was 14-year-old Husna Nazari who told of “the sisterhood” at her school, Auckland Girls’ Grammar. In an emotional speech she shared her struggle at deciding to wear a hijab two years ago.
“I know many people think
I’m forced to wear it, but it was a choice I made when I was in Year 8. When I got to Auckland Girls’ Grammar, I was so proud of that decision because I was supported and able to be myself. If you’re not proud of yourself, how can you strive to be your best?”
Ashleigh Smith (22), who was one of the co-founders of the youth-led, anti-bullying organisation Sticks and Stones also spoke. She met with the duchess at last year’s WOW Australia festival in Brisbane, and asked her what she felt her royal purpose was.
“She said she has the ability to shine a light on all the different organisations doing amazing things. She’s been able to do exactly that by coming here today.
“We get to be in a room with amazing women doing amazing things and it’s these connections and conversations that empower and then we will go out and try to empower more women to do the same.”
From Waitangi, Charles and Camilla had a day of downtime, before picking up the tour in Christchurch, then heading to Kaikoura. We’ll bring you more from the tour next week!