Prince William plans solo Australia trip

Britain's Prince William will visit New Zealand and Australia next week to meet those affected by recent natural disasters.

The second-in-line to the British throne - who will travel without his fiancee Kate Middleton - will make the engagements on behalf of his grandmother, visiting New Zealand towns affected by the recent earthquake in Christchurch and areas of Australia hit by the cyclone and flooding in Queensland.

William will also meet with the Prime Ministers of both countries as well as members of emergency and other support services.

A national memorial service in Christchurch on March 18 will be William's first call of duty before he visits Greymouth, near the site of the recent disaster at the Pike River Mine, where 29 people died.

He will then travel to Queensland, Australia where he will visit affected areas before going to north-west Victoria - which was also hit by flooding - on March 21.

Prince William last visited New Zealand in January 2010, when he paid a visit to Auckland and Wellington on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. He travelled to Australia for the first time in January 2010, on a private visit to Sydney, New South Wales and Melbourne, Victoria.