Wasn't there horse racing that had been announced on this trip (albeit i think from the racing grounds, not KP) - that a horse of HM was racing?
wonder if on one of their off days... or not at all.
Alas MichelleQ2,
Today's Sydney newspaper -under the headline "The royal waive..No time for Randwick but, by George, Sydney's the winner" -
-quotes the Racing NSW chairman, Mr John Messara, as disappointed that the invitation extended to the Royal Couple to attend the premier $18 million race meet, (in which Prince William's grandmother's horse may compete), was declined.
News report is saying Racing NSW has been "dealt a major blow".
Report is also saying the Royal Tour is "almost more Contiki than royal itinerary".
("Contiki Tours" being a rite of passage/booze bus way, many young Australians and New Zealanders first see Europe - in case you haven't heard of them.)
I've posted some photos of the street-side of "Admiralty House" - where W and C will be staying while in Sydney - on the thread of CP Frederik and CP Mary's visit to Australia that I took when they where here last October.
Prince Andrew and then wife Sarah have stayed there, as has Her Majesty.
When the Queen and Prince Phillip were there, a fire-engine was parked in the driveway of the building across the road, with two uniformed firemen sitting in it, the whole time the royal party were staying there.
Much more security for President Bush Senior though - suited security men all over the suburb, (I live nearby), and rubber duckies zooming up and down the Harbour with frogmen diving off to check what might be under the water.
In their day Charles and Diana stayed at Government House on the other side of the Harbour, but this has been given back to the people of NSW and is continously open to the public, and for free, unless an official occasion is on- both the building and the gardens, so no longer an option.
Can't speak for New Zealand, but there will be lots of "iconic" photo opportunities with the Opera House, Uluru, surf-life savers, (remember Prince William's mother Diana doing that), and Aussie animals at Taronga zoo.
The little bilby might get some good publicity out of it. (We have chocolate bilbies alongside chocolate bunnies on our shop shelves at Easter, to help raise it's profile.)
W and C are expected to sign the First Fleet bible during the Easter Sunday church service. That's historic.
Cheers, Sun Lion.