Fond memories of a princely visit

Rotorua's Michael Nock will never forget the day he met Prince William.
The 12-year-old, who is heading to Rotorua Lakes High School this year, was recovering from an appendectomy in Auckland's Starship Hospital in July 2005 when he was wheeled into the hospital's rainforest atrium for a surprise meeting with Prince William. The prince asked him why he was in hospital and Michael told him that he had just had his appendix out and showed him the scar which made the prince a little "squeamish", Michael's mum Jennie Nock said.
"He was nice. He asked me everything about my surgery. I got his autograph," Michael said.
After meeting with royalty Michael and his father Alan headed back to Rotorua with a series of photos on a cellphone.
Stories and pictures of Michael's meeting with the prince ended up in newspapers across the United Kingdom.
Michael told The Daily Post yesterday he had been watching Prince William on the news on television and had talked with his mother about whether to go up to Auckland Airport on Sunday to see him.
"We thought of going to see him but we are going to Whitianga so we decided not to."
Michael said he hoped Prince William enjoyed his trip to New Zealand. He said if he had been given the chance to catch up with the prince this time round he would have wanted tell him it was nice to meet him the last time he was here and that he hoped the prince enjoyed the hangi - the prince's Sunday night meal at Government House.
He said he would always have fond memories of the day Prince William paid him a visit.