Aw shucks – Harry proves a hit with Stewart Islanders
A quarter of the population has probably shaken his hand now.
It’s not often a prince can say he’s met most of an entire population in one hit but then again Stewart Island is something special.
Prince Harry’s visit to the island came more than 60 years after his grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, visited Invercargill and Bluff when they came on a royal tour in 1954 and nearly 30 years after Prince Philip visited the island on a whistlestop tour in 1986.
He learnt to shuck the famous Bluff oyster while visiting the island’s community centre and about 80 people from 10 community groups were gathered inside to meet him.
Outside, more than 100 people gathered to catch a glimpse of the flame-haired royal. With a population of 378, almost quarter of Stewart Island’s
a residents were inside the centre.
Harry wore a navy blue jumper and matching dress pants while he spoke to the island residents.
Community centre treasurer Chris Sara said it was not often people had the chance to shake the hand of royalty.
‘‘A quarter of the population has probably shaken his hand now.’’
Sara was excited to get home to his wife and tell her about meeting him. ‘‘I’ll go home and shake my wife’s hand, I’ll ask her what part of her she wants me to touch.’’
One of the youngest members in the crowd was 12-year-old Angus Kenny who is a member of the Stewart Island Bowls Club.
Meeting the prince was ‘‘pretty cool’’, he said.
‘‘He’s more down-to-earth than I thought he would be.’’
The resounding opinion of the day seemed to be that Harry was easy to talk to.
Nic Adlan, of Stewart Island Smoked Salmon, said speaking to him was awesome.
‘‘He was just so lovely and open it was just like talking to one of your own kids really.’’
One island resident had the chance to ask Harry a burning question.
Gwen Neave, who was there representing Victim Support and the island’s arts trust, asked the prince how England’s rugby team was looking.
‘‘What are the England team looking like?’’ she asked.
Neave said he replied good’.
He then said he would see New
‘very Zealand in the finals of the Rugby World Cup, she said.
While mingling with the crowd and charming the residents, Harry had many of the island residents nervous.
Stewart Island Rakiura Community Environment Trust trustee Sharon Ross said her heart was racing as the prince approached.
‘‘I never thought I would get to shake his hand,’’ she said
SIRCET members spoke to the royal about their role in protecting the island’s wildlife.
Ross was able to find out what Harry was most hoping to see on his trip. ‘‘He really wants to see a kiwi, so I hope he does.’’
The highlight of his trip to the community centre involved a knife and an oyster, as the prince tried his hand at oyster shucking for the first time.
Once opened, he handed the oyster off to a member of the crowd to have a taste.
Chris Sara Community centre treasurer