Feilding is abuzz ahead of the royal visit to its award-winning Farmers' Market - but they'll have to mark the occasion without waving traditional Union Jack flags.

Instead, the Southern Cross will fly high and proud when Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, visit Ohakea airbase and the Feilding Farmers' Markets as part of their New Zealand tour to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Stallholders of the award-winning Feilding Farmers' Market yesterday met to plan for the November 15 arrival of the royal pair.

Some shared their ideas ahead of the meeting for Union Jack decorated bunting, balloons flags and red and blue-frosted treats.

But one stallholder who had considered baking a Union Jack birthday cake for the prince may have to settle for a silver fern or Southern Cross frosting design instead.

A blanket ban on the British livery has been imposed by the Internal Affairs Department.

Feilding Farmers' market shopper Jeanne Brock, originally from London, had lived in New Zealand for almost 30 years.

She used to travel past Buckingham Palace every day and said that there the royals' presence was a "very normal" feature.

"I'm British so I might just come and have a squiz," she said.

Manawatu Mayor Margaret Kouvelis said planning was still in the early stages, and the town and district council were preparing for security levels that will be notched up heavily for the arrival of the high-profile couple.

Media, too, will be on a tight leash. Journalists will have to refrain from waving the Union Jack. They will not attribute any remarks to Prince Charles about the reason for his visit to Feilding.

There would be no mention of the identity or location of his hosts, and those who planned to tail the Duchess of Cornwall will be sorely disappointed.

Her whereabouts after the Feilding visit must also be kept under wraps.

Ardent royalists will have to prepare themselves for an element of spontaneity, as there will be no mention of the specific time of his highness and consort's arrival.

Stallholder Tracee Rakataiti, who makes Kaharoa Gardens preserves, said she planned to hoard her stock for the royal couple's arrival to show off her best wares because she knew the prince shared her interest in sustainable gardening.

- © Fairfax NZ News