19/01/2010

William Visits Australia

Prince William has arrived in Australia for an unofficial tour of the country.

It is the prince's first visit to the British dominion since 1983, when he was a nine-month-old baby.

William, who just completed an official Royal jaunt to New Zealand, will visit the Australian bushes ravaged by fire last year.

Aborigines from the Sydney suburb of Redfern welcomed the 27-year-old prince with a traditional smoking ceremony.

He later met the Queen's representative in Australia, Governor General Quentin Bryce, and dined with singer Delta Goodrem, cricketer Michael Clarke and Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham.

Thousands lined the streets of Redfern to see William 'cleansed' with smoke by a Aboriginal elder.

He then entered a community centre to meet indigenous Australians.

"I was surprised when I heard it on the grapevine that he was coming here to see the indigenous people, the real Australians," said one spectator.

His visit came after an ITV survey found 58% of Australians would rather see William ascend to the throne rather than his father, the Prince of Wales.

Around 45% supported the continuation of the Monarchy.

The survey saw 1,203 Australian adults questioned.

(PR/GK)

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