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William wows young and old during NZ visit

Britain's Prince William became Prince Charming yesterday as he undertook the first official duty of his 11-day visit to New Zealand.

His first walkabout, after a wreath-laying commemorating the end of WWII, delighted the crowd of about 350 well-wishers, as the young prince wowed teenage girls, middle-aged matrons and grizzled war veterans.

"He's certainly a Prince Charming. I wouldn't mind a date if I was a bit younger," said Terese O'Connor, 56. "He's very glamorous and attractive."

As the prince greeted a group of women outside the National War Memorial in the capital, Wellington, 19-year-old Rebecca Kennedy called out, "High five, William!"

William, 23, obliged, leaving Rebecca and her sister Olivia, 16, gasping with delight.

"Oh, it's so cool. He's gorgeous, beautiful. It's so exciting," Rebecca gushed after touching the hand of the second-in-line to the British throne.

A chilling wind didn't diminish the warmth clearly emanating from the crowd of well-wishers who waited nearly an hour outside the granite-clad memorial building, where cheers went up when William arrived at noon local time in a gray suit and blue shirt.

He laid a wreath, paused for a moment of reflection at the tomb, then flashed the crowd a grin and gave a quick wave before moving inside the building to meet with war veterans as the memorial "Peace Bell" solemnly tolled.

"I was very impressed with the young fellow, who was ... very personable," said Walter Fraser, 77, a decorated World War II veteran who also fought in Korea.

"A very handsome man. He's as good as I thought he would be," said Nan Cooper, 73.
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