The excitement of royal visits was not a new thing, with many of the residents recalling the Queen's visit and later Charles and Diana's visit.
Rest home volunteer Lillias Stevens recalled a number of royal visits to New Zealand in her lifetime, one sticking out in her mind when she wasn't able to go from Invercargill to see the royal family visiting Bluff.
"The family were all going and they wouldn't take me because I was just four days off having our son."
She also remembered the royal visit to Tauranga.
"We had a coffee shop at the time and we walked along and saw them go by."
Resident Else-maj Tirinen could remember the Queen shaking her friend's son's hand and the excitement of being so close to her.
"I was born in Finland but everyone there was very interested in the English royalty," she said.
For some of the residents, watching the royals arrive in Wellington yesterday on television was a great, new experience.
Resident Myra Hall said she had missed out on seeing the royal family on earlier visits because travel was difficult.
"We weren't able to travel and there were no TVs. If you didn't live in the main centres you missed out. We saw them on the TV today which was very nice, and the little prince, too."
She was looking forward to the high tea party to celebrate, and said her daughter was coming in for the occasion.
Resident Marlene Roberts said the visit was meaningful to New Zealanders because of the distance between the countries.
"We're so far away from England and it's really quite exciting having them come here."
The high tea party will be held at Aspen Rest Home at 2pm on Friday, while the royals are in Auckland.
