Royals

Wills in Oz: looking back at Prince William’s previous trips to Australia

The 2014 Royal Tour, which will see Royal couple Kate and Wills bring baby Prince George to Australia, echoes the trip made by a young Charles and Diana over three decades ago.

The Prince and Princess of Wales touched down in Alice Springs in March 1983 with a baby Prince William in tow. Wills was just nine months old – the same age Prince George will be when he arrives.

It was 17 years before the young Prince William would return, this time as a young man in January 2010, touring towns and meeting with survivors of the horrific fires that killed 173 people in rural Victoria in 2009.

And he quickly returned, travelling to Queensland in 2011 to visit the regions devastated by floods and Hurricane Yasi.

Prince William at Kerand South Primary School in Victoria, March 21, 2011. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Prince William waits to make his speech at Government House in Mellbourne on January 21, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, arrive with baby son Prince William at Alice Springs airport on March 20, 1983. Photo: Getty Images

Two men wait in the rain for Prince William in Grantham, Queensland, March 20, 2011. Photo: Getty Images

Greeting members of the State Emergency Services in Cairns, Australia, March 19, 2011. Photo: Getty Images

At the Cardwell Community Hall in Queensland, March 19, 2011. Photo: Getty Images

Prince William makes a surprise visit to the Australian Open to watch Roger Federer play Victor Hanescu. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Shaking hands with spectators as he leaves the Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

BBQ duties at the bushfire affected township of Flowerdale, January 21, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Arriving at at Government House on the third and final day of his unofficial visit to Australia, January 21, 2010 in Melbourne. Photo: Getty Images

Fans wait in the Royal Botanic Gardens, January 20, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Prince William gives a speech at a reception in the Botanical Gardens, January 20, 2010. Photos: Getty Images

William is greeted by an indigenous elder during a smoking ceremony at the Redfern Community Centre on January 19, 2010. Photo: AAP/Getty Images

Former Governor General Dame Quentin Bryce greets the Prince as he arrives for lunch at Admiralty House, January 19, 2010. Photo Getty Images

Wills reads to children at the Redfern Community Centre, January 19, 2010. Photo: WireImage

Meeting crowds at the Redfern Community Centre, January 19, 2010. Photo: WireImage

At the Redfern Community Centre, January 19, 2010. Photo: WireImage

The Prince meets children at the Redfern Community Centre, January 19, 2010. Photo: WireImage

Playing table tennis at the Redfern Community Centre, January 19, 2010. Photo: WireImage

Prince William arrives at Sydney Airport on the first day of his unofficial visit to Australia on January 19, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Her Excellency Marie Bashir chats with William in the Government House gardens. Photo: Getty Image

Wills reads a poster handed to him as he meets with members of the local Redfern aboriginal community, January 19, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

Wills chats with Delta Goodrem at Admiralty House, January 19, 2010. Photo: Getty Images

The Prince talks with Aboriginal elders in the Redfern community, January 19, 2010. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Prince William is carried by his nanny, Barbara Barnes, off the Royal Flight, March 20, 1983. Photo: Getty Images

Wills arrives at Government House in Melbourne (left) and playing cricket in the bushfire affected township of Flowerdale (right). January 21, 2010. Photos: Getty Images

William arrives by helicopter at a community BBQ in Murrabit, March 21, 2011 (right) and talking with the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser, whose dog lies on the floor at Government House, January 21, 2010. Photos: Getty Images

A funny sign for the Prince’s visit to Kerang (left) and playing AFL at a community BBQ in Murrabit, March 21, 2011. Photos: WireImage/Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales, carrying baby Prince William beside Prince Charles after their arrival at Alice Springs airport for their tour of Australia, 20 March 1983. Photo: Getty Images

Prince Charles and Princess Diana with baby son Prince William at Alice Springs airport, March 20, 1983. Photo: Getty Images

Related stories