Prince William begins New Zealand trip

Britain's Prince William will begin a tour of New Zealand and Australia today (17.03.11) where he is to meet those affected by recent natural disasters.

The second-in-line to the British throne - who has travelled without his fiancee Kate Middleton - will start his tour in Christchurch, which suffered an earthquake last month, leaving more than 160 people dead.

He will also visit the town of Greymouth where 29 people died in a mining explosion, before travelling to Queensland and Victoria in Australia.

William is making the engagements on behalf of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and is expected to meet with the Prime Ministers of both countries as well as members of emergency and other support services.

A national memorial service in Christchurch 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.

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.