Prince Edward puts the Royal in Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
THE Earl of Wessex has become the first royal to officially visit to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, more than 50 years since his mother Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the Royal prefix on the site.
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THE Earl of Wessex has become the first royal to officially visit to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, more than 50 years since his mother Queen Elizabeth II bestowed the Royal prefix on the site.
The Earl, better known as Prince Edward, was at the site to launch the Bicentenary of the Gardens and officially open the new Lily Pad decks.
MORE: ROYAL VISITOR FOR GARDENS’ CELEBRATION
Although Prince Edward joked that a plaque unveiling was “not necessarily the most exciting thing”, he lifted the curtain to rapturous applause.
“I will try and make this look slick and professional, it has taken years and years of practice, and I’m still practising,” he said.
Cycling group Sisters on a Roll were among the first people the Prince spoke to at the Gardens.
Group leader Pam Lane said they had not expected to be able to speak with the royal.
“It was great, we actually came along to see him here. You don’t think you’re going to get to actually have a chat, but he was really nice,” Ms Lane said.
“We were going to try for a photo bomb but we didn’t. He was drawn in by our jerseys I think.”
Hutchins year four student Aaron Varghese managed to secure a high five from Prince Andrew as he passed by.
“I was really happy,” Aaron said.
“I’ve never met the royal family and it was a big pleasure to.
“He asked me what my favourite sport was, I said soccer and AFL.”
Earlier in the day the prince charmed hundreds of students in a visit to St Aloysius Catholic College at Huntingfield.
He was in a relaxed mood as he watched a drama performance, talked to students, presented awards, unveiled a plaque, and opened a new BMX bike track.
Year 9 student Nicholas Shelverton was lucky enough to have a personal brush with royalty, chatting with the prince as he opened the bike track.
The teen said the prince came across as a “nice bloke”.
“We talked about the mountain bike track and what we’ve been doing in our mountain bike club,” Nicholas said.
“He’s very warm and welcoming, and very nice.”
The prince chatted at length with students as he inspected stalls from a number of local schools, and impressed Fahan students with some trivia about which instrument has the most moving parts.
For the record, it is — according to the prince — the harp.
Grade 9 student Amber Vince, from St Aloysius, met the prince as he arrived at the school.
“It was very nerve-racking, it was like nothing I’ve done before — it was really fun,” Amber said.
“I was a bit nervous, but he made it better.
Amber said she had always wanted to meet a member of the royal family, and hoped her brief discussion with Prince Edward wouldn’t be her last regal encounter.
“My grandparents have always gone along following the royal family, and so I would like to go on with that,” she said.
“I really want to meet the Queen, and Charlotte and George.”
MORE: ROYAL HOLDS COURT WITH TENNIS JUNIORS
Prince Edward is visiting Hobart as part of his Australian tour during the Commonwealth Games.
The youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II flew to the Tasmanian capital from Victoria on Monday.
His Royal Highness arrived in Melbourne on Friday and will visit five cities while in Australia, attending 32 events in eight days.
But he will take a few days off the tour to attend the Commonwealth Games, like big brother Prince Charles and his wife Camilla.
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