Flies, heat welcome royals to Uluru

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will receive a series dot paintings when they visit Uluru. Source: AAP

IT'S been the warmest welcome so far for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince William and Kate touched down in Yulara in central Australia at 1pm local time and walked off the plane into 31C degree heat and bright sunshine.

They were dressed for the occasion, with Kate in a mauve, cap-sleeved Roksanda Ilincic dress and William similarly desert-ready, in cream pants, brown suede loafers and a casual khaki shirt. Neither, however, was wearing a hat to protect against the harsh sun.

They were greeted by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Sally Thomas, her husband Duncan McNeill, NT Chief Minister Adam Giles and his wife Tamara, and traditional owners Daisy Walkabout and Vincent Nipper. And flies.

William lingered as he spoke to Ms Walkabout, who greeted his parents Prince Charles and Diana on their trip to Uluru in 1983.

Later on Tuesday, they'll experience one of the highlights of their tour Down Under: a visit to Uluru.

"They've travelled a lot and now they will come to see this country, and it will be good to know they have seen Uluru, which is so hugely significant not just for a small group of people but a whole range of people that are related and connected to this place," Ms Walkabout said.

But first, the royal tourists presented certificates to tourism and hospitality graduates from the National Indigenous Training Academy at Yulara, and met some of the excited locals.

After receiving her certificate from Catherine, Jasmine Jingles, 19, of Mornington Island, Queensland, said she was thrilled.

"It's amazing, deadly as," she enthused.

Following the certificate ceremony, the royal couple were presented with hand-made gifts of jewellery and carvings as well as a barbed mulga wood spear bound in traditional fashion with kangaroo tendons.

The prince seemed impressed with his gift, asking about its construction.

Kate said she was thrilled to receive a hand-painted bracelet made of seed, which she immediately donned.

The couple spent nearly 15 minutes talking to 150 onlookers and graduates.

Emma Haskins, 39, from Alice Springs, was thrilled to meet Kate after planning her trip for months and making the five-hour drive from Alice on Monday.

"It's been planned since March - as soon as we found out she was coming we did it," she said.

The Cambridges will next visit the Cultural Centre in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for a traditional welcome to country and meeting with Aboriginal artists and an afternoon tea.

Then they'll have a close encounter with the iconic rock.

The visit has generated huge interest among the local Anangu people, the traditional owners of the rock, evoking memories of the sentimental journey made there by William's parents, Charles and Diana, in 1983 on their first trip to Australia.

Then a baby, William accompanied them on the tour - but not to Uluru - and some of the traditional owners hope that one day his son, George, will become the next king-in-waiting to see the rock.

The royal couple arrived at the cultural centre at 3.45pm local time for the welcome to country ceremony.

Kate had changed into a grey and white, geometric print dress.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Flies, heat welcome royals to Uluru

Dengan url

https://perjuanganpanjang.blogspot.com/2014/04/flies-heat-welcome-royals-to-uluru.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Flies, heat welcome royals to Uluru

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Flies, heat welcome royals to Uluru

sebagai sumbernya