Wills and Kate visit Team New Zealand

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Emirates Team New Zealand Base in Portsmouth. Photo / supplied

Team New Zealand won the publicity lottery tonight when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made an unscheduled visit to their base in Portsmouth.

With the rain teeming down in the south of England the royals were spirited inside and William and Kate chose the Emirates Team New Zealand base as their preferred destination.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Emirates Team New Zealand base in Portsmouth. Photo / Hamish Hooper

The move nearly blindsided Team NZ boss Grant Dalton and his staff, who were only made aware of the change of plans an hour before the visit when local and military dignitaries started arriving at their makeshift home.

Boat cradles and other pieces of equipment were hastily removed as the Team NZ sailors went about preparing for a day's racing.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo / ACEA

"I had absolutely no idea until people started standing in our tent," said Dalton. "Now the world's media are standing here.

"It's a great coup for us and the result of what we did with them a year ago."

When the second-in-line to the throne and his wife visited New Zealand last year, Team NZ took them out on the Waitemata Harbour for a staged match-race, using the old NZ40 and 41 boats.

"It was a request of the palace and really well received," said Dalton.