Excited fans have a day to remember

FLOWERS AND FUN: Yelena Mokha and Wendy Wilson said the prince was gracious and has a good sense of humour.PHOTOS/LEWIS GARDNER 140515WCLGPRINCEHARRY-23

They may be too young to know who Prince Harry is but they donned their crowns and practised their waves to greet the royal visitor when he alighted from the waka opposite Moutoa Gardens yesterday.

Children from Home Grown Childcare were enjoying a picnic while they waited for the prince and babies aboard the Waimarie grew impatient as they waited with their parents for the waka to arrive.

Kate Anand brought her little dog Corry along to see the prince and said she has looked forward to greeting a royal visitor for a long time.

"I loved the royal family when I was a little girl in Scotland so I'm excited to get close to a prince here in Wanganui."

Image 1 of 18: Prince Harry at Putiki Marae.

Christie Te Ki-Reu and her son Nathan had a special gift for Harry - a toy kiwi that performed a haka when squeezed.

"We were so happy that we were able to give it to him and he held on to it when a security guard wanted to take it from him," said Mrs Te Ki-Reu.

Friend Donna Weitzel also got to shake the prince's hand and said she was impressed by his warmth and friendliness.

When Harry went on a walkabout outside the War Memorial Centre, he met some colourful characters decked out in Union Jack costumes.

Wendy Wilson and 9-year-old Yelena Mokha were delighted to speak to the prince in person and Yelena gave him a bouquet.

Mrs Wilson received a compliment about her costume and said the prince told her she had all the right gear on.

"I told him that I'm a pom and he said, 'Oh, I would never have guessed'.

"He is very relaxed."

Jeanne-Claire Gordon, who was wearing her Union Jack baseball jacket said she was pleased to get close to a royal person. "We lived in Brunei and she always wanted to meet the Sultan so she has now got to be near an important person," said mum Julie Gordon.

Keiran Spence said he has been looking forward to the royal visit and he was dressed in his British flag costume with a regal-looking pendant and red wig.

Mr Spence posed for a photo with 9-year-old Sienna Castellanos, who was wearing a wig she called her "Harry Hair".

"I wanted my granddad to wear it when he was in the hall with the soldiers but he wouldn't so I wore it instead".

Hundreds of people lined the riverbank for the royal visit, and an estimated 2000 people attended Prince Harry's walkabout outside the War Memorial Hall yesterday afternoon.