Prince Charles looking forward to Canterbury visit

Royal visit to Manawatu

David Unwin/Fairfax NZ Zoom

FARMER'S WIFE: Diny Dermer meets Prince Charles at her home.

Charles And Camilla Visit Wellington

MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ Zoom

Prince Charles and Camilla with Sir Jerry Mateparae and wife Janine cut into one of 64 kiwiana-themed cakes created for his 64th birthday.

Royal visits to New Zealand

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax NZ Zoom

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with NZ Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh (left) brave the breeze during the Armistice Day commemorations outside the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Relevant offers

Christchurch is gearing up for its royal visit, with many people hoping to see Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, when they tour the city today.

The city is the final stop for the couple, who have been visiting New Zealand this week as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. The couple will land at Christchurch Airport at 11.35am and be taken to the Christchurch City Council offices on Worcester Blvd, where they will be welcomed in a ceremony by Ngai Tahu at noon.

From about 12.40pm the couple will tour the CBD to see how the city is recovering after the earthquakes, before driving from Oxford Tce, where they will meet former residents, and continue to the Diamond Jubilee Clock on Victoria St about 1pm. About 1.30pm, they will arrive at the Colombo St entrance to City Mall and are expected to visit the Re:Start mall.

At 2pm, the couple will meet volunteer organisation representatives at the corner of Cashel St and Oxford Tce.

In the afternoon, they will attend the Canterbury A&P Show, where Prince Charles will present the award for supreme animal in show. The prince said this week he was looking forward to visiting Christchurch.

"By the time my wife and I leave you later this week, we shall have seen much more of this vibrant and innovative New Zealand," he said.

"We will take with us an impression of a country confident of its own identity and proud of its diverse origins, having strong traditions, but also confident about its future. That national character has been most sorely tested recently in Christchurch, but in no way found lacking.

"I am so pleased that we shall be able to join Cantabrians on our last day and to salute their strength and dignity."

They will leave about 10.30pm, heading for Darwin.

- © Fairfax NZ News