Wellington: Prince William will visit New Zealand early next year for his first official overseas trip, then travel to Australia as he steps up his royal duties, the countries` leaders said on Monday.
Prince William, second in line to the throne, will be in Auckland and Wellington from January 17 to 19 before travelling to Australia for a three-day visit to Sydney and Melbourne.
"Prince William will represent the Queen at the opening of the Supreme Court building in Wellington," New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said in a statement, adding this was the prince`s first official visit overseas.
"Following his visit to New Zealand Prince William will pay an unofficial visit to Australia."
Queen Elizabeth II is New Zealand and Australia`s head of state.
Prince William, 27, last visited New Zealand in 2005 for the British Lions` rugby tour but has not been to Australia since travelling there as a baby in 1983 with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the young royal would use the visit to learn more about issues affecting the nation`s Aborigines and see the bushfire-ravaged countryside near Melbourne where 173 people died in February.
"The visit originated from a request to the government of Australia by Prince William to visit the country so as to begin to get to know Australia and its people," Rudd said in a statement.
The trip is likely to renew debate about Australia`s status as a constitutional monarchy, with Rudd an avowed republican.
However, the Queen is regarded with much affection in Australia and Rudd has said that cutting the nation`s ties with the British monarchy is not a priority.
British media have reported that Prince William organised for the trip to occur during a break in his training to become a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force.
Bureau Report
