Wellington - Prince Charles and his wife Camilla struggled for a share of the limelight when they arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday, just hours after the All Black rugby team returned home as newly crowned World Cup champions.
More than 4 000 Kiwis turned out to greet the triumphant All Blacks, the most famous players in the nation's dominant sport, when they landed in Auckland early Wednesday. The team convincingly beat Australia in the London final on Saturday.
The prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were welcomed to a rainy Wellington airport by Prime Minister John Key and wife Bronagh, and were driven along the harbour front to Government House.
"To be fair, this is not a good day to arrive in New Zealand is it, for anyone other than the All Blacks?" said broadcaster Paul Henry on his morning breakfast show.
"Really, you're going to pale into insignificance," he added.
Before his arrival, Charles said he was "much looking forward to our tour of Australia and New Zealand, especially when these two countries have given everyone so much sporting prowess and excitement in the UK through the Rugby World Cup," according to Radio New Zealand.
The rainy weather meant a planned ceremonial welcome on the lawns of government house had to be cancelled, with the prince and duchess instead receiving a traditional hongi greeting, pressing noses with Maori representatives at the entrance to the building.
About 100 people gathered to see the prince and duchess when they appeared at the national war memorial to lay a wreath and place symbolic ferns on the tomb of the unknown warrior.
The couple are to tour New Zealand for seven days, with one of the highlights likely to be a visit to the Maori King at his headquarters at the Turangawaewae Marae in the central North Island on Sunday.
The couple leave New Zealand for Australia on November 10.
DPA