Hat’s getting in the way, Camilla! Duchess’s headgear makes Maori warrior wince as she attempts a nose-rubbing during official welcome to Auckland’s Government House with Prince Charles
- Charles and Camilla rubbed noses with officials and warriors during the welcome, a traditional Maori greeting
- A call of welcome and the famous haka followed, while Charles took the royal salute and inspected the guard
- Today’s official welcoming ceremony marked day two of Charles and Camilla’s eight day tour of New Zealand
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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have arrived at Government House in Auckland to receive a formal welcome to New Zealand.
Members of the country’s armed forces gave them a traditional Maori welcome, where a dart was placed on the ground by a warrior for Charles to pick up in the wero, or challenge.
A call of welcome and haka followed, while Charles took the royal salute and inspected the guard.
Charles and Camilla also rubbed noses during the official welcome, a traditional Maori greeting.
It seemed the Duchess had picked the wrong hat for the occasion, with a Maori warrior wincing as it pressed against his forehead during the greeting.
They are on an eight-day tour of New Zealand and the official welcome marked the start of day two of the tour.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall receives a hongi from the ceremonial warrior as she and Prince Charles attend an official ceremony of welcome at Government House in Auckland
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales receives a Hongi, traditional Maori greeting, as he attends the Ceremony of Welcome, Government House in Auckland today
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are on an 8-day tour of New Zealand. It is their third joint visit to New Zealand and first in four years
Maori dancers perform for the arrival of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ahead of a Ceremony of Welcome, Government House
Charles, 71, and Camilla, 72, undertook a whirlwind tour of engagements during their first day of their eight day royal tour of the country, including meeting children at a local community centre and laying a wreath at Mount Roskill War Memorial in Auckland.
It is the couple’s third visit to the country, after visiting in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee and again in 2015.
The royals started their day by visiting the Mount Roskill War Memorial where they paid their respects and took part in a wreath laying ceremony in the Mount Roskill neighbourhood of Auckland.
The first full day of the tour to New Zealand began on a solemn note, as the couple paid tribute to those who had served the country at the Mount Roskill War Memorial.
Crowds peeked through the trees at the suburban Auckland site, while Charles laid a wreath with the message ‘in solemn remembrance’ on the cairn.
The site also contains a memorial to men from the Pacific island Niue who fought alongside the 3rd Maori Contingent in the First World War, with 150 men having departed for Auckland on the SS Te Anau on October 13, 1915.
Maori dancers perform for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at a Ceremony of Welcome, Government House in Auckland
They are on an eight-day tour of New Zealand and the official welcome in Auckland marked the start of day two of the tour
The Duke and Duchess receive a traditional Maori welcome from members of the New Zealand Armed Forces on the lawn of Government House
The Prince of Wales shares a traditional maori greeting of a hongi with Mrs Ranui Ngarimu at Government House in Auckland
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales inspects the Guard during the Ceremony of Welcome, Government House today in Auckland, New Zealand
The Prince of Wales exchanges a few words with a New Zealand Air Force as he inspects troops at Government House in Auckland today