Lions' latest ring-in joins tour

Prince William, met at Wellington Airport by Helen Clark (left) and the Government Administrator, Dame Sian Elias. Picture / Mark Mitchell

It was a garden-variety Air New Zealand plane stocked with the usual rag-bag of commoners - Lions supporters, an MP or two, commuters, school kids on a sports trip and smiling flight attendants.

And a Prince.

William of Wales touched down at Wellington Airport yesterday for a 10-day visit to New Zealand - his first engagement as an adult member of the royal family.

His mission: to inject some spirit into the flailing Lions team.

Yesterday, his arrival proved a happy coincidence for those waiting to catch flights and the others on William's plane.

Susan Rawle, from the Cotswolds, had flown from England "with" the Prince.

"It's quite nice to fly with royalty, I must say."

It is William's first visit to New Zealand since 1983, when he came with his father, Prince Charles, and mother, the late Princess Diana.

Then, the nation cooed over the 9-month-old in his peach romper suit.

This time, at 23, he is more media wary and a good deal taller, and yesterday earned a different audience.

Waiting for their own boarding call to Christchurch, Katie Gibbons, 20, and Samantha Van Hattum, 18, put their chance encounter with royalty down to fate.

"I'm quite excited about the Prince because I get to see if he's hot or not," Katie said.

There was some discussion about how best to express this when the Prince walked past.

As he did, Katie and Samantha opted for the alluring stunned mullet approach, followed by some giggling.

The Prince flung a quick wave and a grin in the general direction of the 150 or so waiting to catch a glimpse, swept down the stairs and hopped in a car for Government House.

In his wake he left Catherine and Judith who, despite the wisdom of middle age, were no more immune to the Prince's charms than Katie and Samantha had been.

"I was meant to meet Judith at 8am, but I've only just found her now because I was entranced," Catherine said.

"I thought he was gorgeous," Judith declared. "But I felt sorry for him only to be meeting all those older women."

Those "older women" - Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Government Administrator, Chief Jus-tice Dame Sian Elias - standing in

for the Governor-General, who returns from overseas today - greeted the Prince with handshakes at the gate and flanked him as he left.

Helen Clark said she thought him a "pleasant and good-natured young man" and that he was excited to be in New Zealand.

"He hasn't been here since he was a child. I said to him somebody is bound to produce the photo of you with the Buzzy Bee."

After Government House, it was into the Lions den. "Bad luck, old mate," William offered as a greeting to injured Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll, his arm in a sling.

The Prince greeted one player from each of the nations in the team: O'Driscoll from Ireland, replacement captain Gareth Thomas from Wales, Will Greenwood from England and Gordon Bulloch from Scotland.

"It's good to be here," he told them.

He made a show of puffing out his chest as he was photographed with the hulking rugby players.

"I've got to look bigger," he joked as the cameras turned the hotel lobby into a strobe-light disco.

For the next nine days, which will include some days without official duties, Prince William will plant trees and watch water polo and rugby.

And his every move will be watched by the scores of British media who have followed him here, no longer constrained by an agreement that limited coverage of the Prince during his schooling.

William in NZ

* Today - Wellington.Tree planting ceremony at Government House: 3.15pm.

* Dinner and dance at Government House with 100 invited guests.