Royals arrive in New Zealand to rain, cheers

SYDNEY: Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Kate, have arrived in New Zealand’s capital to cheers from locals who braved windy, rainy weather to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in the fog-shrouded city of Wellington on Monday along with their baby son, George, to kick off a three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Prime Minister John Key greeted the couple before they were whisked off to Government House where they received a traditional Maori welcome.
Kate, 32, struggled to keep her dress and pill-box hat under control as she carried her son down the steps of the New Zealand Air Force 757 to be greeted by Prime Minister John Key.
The chubby baby was lightly dressed in shorts and a white cardigan. Kate wore a buttoned-up red coat by designer Catherine Walker, adorned with a silver fern brooch that was a gift to Queen Elizabeth II when she visited New Zealand in 1953.
“I don’t think their enthusiasm for coming to New Zealand has been dampened at all by the fact that we all got wet today on the tarmac,” Key told reporters.
“My sense is that they’re going to captivate the nation... hopefully they’ll have a great time.”
The arrival was one of the first times George, who is third in line to the throne, has been seen in public since his birth on July 22 last year.
He will be present at only a few engagements on the tour, with the family based in Wellington and committing to a relatively light schedule of day-trips and rare evening functions while in New Zealand.
George did not attend the official welcoming ceremony on the lawns of Government House, as driving rain swept Wellington.