Royal Tour: Duke and Duchess in Manly
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge thrilled huge crowds at Manly beach this afternoon as they took to the sand to watch a surf lifesaving competition.
Earlier in the day, Catherine gave her first speech of the visit at a children's hospice for sick children, telling a small intimate crowd 'the haven that you have created here is inspirational'.
The Royals visited Bear Cottage in a bid to raise awareness for the hospice, which provides care for sick children.
The Duchess of Cambridge told staff, carers and patients that 'when families are confronted with the shattering news that their children have a life limiting condition their world can fall apart'.
"The haven that you have created here is inspirational. To be here together as a family has been very special and we will always remember it with fond and happy memories," she added.
"I would to thank everyone who has welcomed me and George so incredibly warmly on our first visit."
The couple then headed to Manly beach, to be met by massive crowds and glorious sunshine.
Earlier, the Duke of Cambridge picked up a tip for Halloween, the duchess shared one of Prince George's favourite meals, and they met a sheep with a special royal connection.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got a taste of regional Australia on Friday in more ways than one when they visited Sydney's Royal Easter Show on Good Friday.
At the popular district exhibits display, the couple checked out the winning display, from the northern region, which might have been proud of its soft Alpaca wool.
But Kate commented on the fleece for other reasons.
"The princess said (the Duke) should put some on his head," said Lyn Cregan, 67, from Glen Innes.
"She pointed at him and said 'You need it more than me.' He laughed."
When Ms Cregan revealed she used hair lacquer on the pumpkins to give them extra shine, the Duke said he would try the trick next Halloween.
While admiring piles of root vegetables in the South East Queensland display, Kate told preserve maker Diana Lisle that George is particularly fond of sweet potatoes.
Hundreds watched the couple move through through the hall, viewing exhibits from producers from across NSW. The displays are the largest of their kind in the world, with more than 10,000 fresh pieces of produce on display.
The couple tasted wild berry and macadamia nougat and chocolates, and scores of presents were pressed into their minders' arms, including half a dozen Easter eggs, baby clothes, fudge and tea.
A trolley was brought to cope with the flow as the crowds passed books, Possum Magic and Peppa Pig toys, and bouquets.
The couple unveiled a plaque in the new Southee and Badgery Pavilion, home to the Show's arts and crafts, fashion and style and flower and garden displays.
Kate, a keen photographer, paid special attention to the pavilion's photography display.
She told Alison Renwick, former chair of the arts and crafts pavilion, that she enjoyed taking photos, and painting and drawing.
"She said she doesn't get much time for it anymore," Ms Renwick said.
But it was Cox Pavilion that seemed to hold special interest for William, who in March completed a University of Cambridge 10-week course in agricultural management.
There they met Fred the six-year-old ram, who had been taught to bow for the occasion, and watched shearers in action.
Wool from Fred's Merino fleece went into a suit that was presented to the Duke on the occasion of his wedding.
At the Wool for School exhibit, Kate met last year's winner, Sophie Aylward, from Kinross Wollaroi School in Orange, whose winning design was a blue woollen dress for the Duchess.
The couple were due to sign the Show's visitors book on leaving, but made time to receive posies on their way out.
They didn't, however, have time to pick up a Bertie Beetle showbag.
A Royal carousel
In prime position was the Royal Double Decker Carousel, which gave lucky punters a bird’s eye view of the crowded roadway.
Owner Jade Evans was ‘very excited’ to have one of the most coveted vantage points to eye the royals in the Sydney Showground.
“[Having the royal carousel] just adds to the atmosphere, we had the royal music on [God Save the Queen] and a lot of people wanting to get on for a look.”
The highly appropriate carousel name might seem pre-planned, but Ms Evans said the ‘royal’ alignment was an accident.
“It’s our first appearance at the Royal Easter Show this year, we actually named the carousel The Royal Double Decker Carousel before we knew the royals were coming, so it was a very lucky coincidence!”
Once they realised the Easter Show was going to host Duchess Catherine and Prince William, they decided to celebrate with a limited edition treat.
“We had the Royal Waffle Dog today in the food van which have special crown detailing on them, we made 500 of them just for today,” she said.
“It’s a very special year – the royal waffle dog, the royal carousel and we even got to see some royals!”
“There’s something so special about Kate and William, something so lovely about them, so it was really special to be a part of the day.”
The Duchess of Cambridge arrived wearing a dress by an Australian designer for the first time.
The Zimmerman dress was not going to be available to buy until June, but reports suggest that date has now been moved forward.
But, whenever the release date, like everything else worn by the Duchess on this trip, it is likely to sell out in hours.
In a slightly bizarre coincidence, social media quickly became abuzz over an image of Australian actress Naomi Watts wearing the same dress. Watts, of course, played Diana, the Duke of Cambridge's mother, in a recent biopic.
William steps close to the edge
His countryman James Bond definitely would have approved.
Dressed in a smart jacket and trousers but not a Bond-style bow tie, Prince William came within centimetres of falling from a 100-metre cliff face in the NSW Blue Mountains on Thursday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were at Narrow Neck Lookout, a spectacular vertical cliff at Katoomba that plunges 100 metres to the lush bush below.
As he watched abseilers dropping down the cliff, Prince William stepped to within centimetres of the edge to have a really good look out, without wearing a safety harness.
"He took a bit of a lunge and a few people held their breath, gasped and readied their hands to grab him," said Damien Cooper, manager of the Blue Mountains Youth Service.
"He was fine, of course, he knew what he was doing. I think his military background prepared him well for it."
Tim Williams of the Blue Mountains Adventure Company added: "He was very calm on the edge; he didn't worry about the safety briefing to stay a fair distance back.
"He just stepped up to have a cool look over.
"He said it would be nice to come back another time and have a go himself.
"They were both keen, it was just their attire that held them back.
"It's a bit difficult to abseil in a suit and dress."
James Bond would no doubt disagree with that.
Nonetheless, Prince William and the Duchess departed Narrow Neck Lookout having left onlookers with a real sense of derring-do.
The couple met a group of local teenagers who are members of the Mountain Youth services Adventure Program.
The youngsters demonstrated a range of adventure activities, including problem solving activities and games.
PM has meeting with Prince William
Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday made no secret of his love of the royal family and he was more than happy to welcome another prince to Sydney.
Mr Abbott, who recently and controversially reintroduced knighthoods and damehoods to Australia, met Prince William - second-in-line to the throne - at Admiralty House on Wednesday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are making their first official visit as a couple to Australia. William has visited three times before, including once with his parents Charles and Diana when he was the same age as George.
Kate and Prince George did not attend Wednesday afternoon's meeting in the elegant drawing room of Admiralty House, the harbourside official residence of the governor-general.
Prince William, Mr Abbott and their companions enjoyed a cup of tea during the meeting in the richly appointed room with views onto rolling gardens, the sunny harbour and glimpses of the Opera House.
Mr Abbott was focused on talking about Australia's volunteer firefighters after the duke and duchess visited the Blue Mountains to meet those affected by the bushfires six months ago.
He told the duke about the great spirit of the Rural Fire Service and mentioned his own work with the volunteer brigade in a meeting at Admiralty House in Sydney.
Mr Abbott, a member of the Davidson RFS branch, told the prince: "I'm a member of the local volunteer Rural Fire Service," before discussing the ferocity of the fires that burned for a fortnight and the spirit of volunteer firefighters.
"These guys will respond to the needs even if they've got to neglect their own properties. It's a great embodiment of the volunteer spirit, a great example of mates looking after mates."
Mr Abbott asked William, who changed into a navy suit and red printed tie for the meeting, if he had enjoyed his visit to the Blue Mountains.
"A very good day, thank you. There were some incredible stories," the prince said.
William remarked to Mr Abbott how stoic the survivors who'd told him their stories had been.
He recounted being told by one resident of his efforts to defend his own house before helping save his neighbour's property.
Mr Abbott also told the prince that locals were worried that tourists and visitors thought the Blue Mountains was still devastated by fire.
"But it's amazing how quickly the bush recovers and there's still businesses, attractions," Mr Abbott said.
The prince mentioned his visit to the Three Sisters.
"It was a beautiful area," he said.
Mr Abbott, who will host the royal couple at a lunch at Parliament House in Canberra next Thursday, hinted that he might appear at other events while the royals are in Sydney.
"Great to meet with the Duke of Cambridge today - Looking forward to other events with the visiting Royals over Easter," he tweeted after the meeting.
It's not the first time Mr Abbott has welcomed a member of the royal family. Last October, he told William's younger brother Harry - who was visiting during Fleet Week: "Prince Harry, I regret to say not every Australian is a monarchist. But today everyone feels like a monarchist."
