There’s no doubt that for all of Canberra’s Republican leanings, the arrival on April 24 of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their eight-month-old son Prince George, is likely to bring the city to a standstill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Canberrans, of course, are used to the pomp and ceremony of a revolving door of international dignitaries and politicians who frequent our Parliament and national monuments.
But there is something about this fresh, young Royal couple - with a bonny new bub in tow - that is likely to bring unprecedented public interest from a town which may otherwise be a little jaded with the usual fare of men in suits on official tours.
Pity then that the Royal family are being served up the same itinerary that seems to be rolled out whenever high office descends on our gentle city.
Parliament House. Government House. The War Memorial. Forgive me if I drift off momentarily.
The Duchess of Cambridge has never been to Australia in an official capacity, and there are few buildings more magnificent or significant than our Federal Parliament or War Memorial, granted. Government House is also always good for an impromptu one-on-one with wildlife and the sight of the photogenic family deep in contemplation of a grazing kangaroo is likely to send the British paparazzi bonkers.
But one can’t help but wonder whether this beautiful city of ours has more to offer the sophisticated young family than the stock-standard stuff.
For one thing, the moniker George can be happily celebrated here in Canberra.
While mum and dad are busy during the official Anzac day commemorative service at the War Memorial, can someone please make sure that the third in line to the British throne gets some quality time in the cockpit of the G for George Avro Lancaster B1.
The light and sound show may not go over a treat if the little guy is hungry or tired, but few children can resist the brilliant and very much hands-on exhibit.
Similarly, little George should be let loose for half an hour in what is arguably the city’s most magnificent playground courtesy of Canberra Rugby royalty George Gregan.
Located in the new Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, the playground is a gift from the George Gregan Foundation and has an identifiable Aussie theme to it, if you can look past the giant gorilla smiling benignly in one corner.
Why not encourage the Duke and Duchess to visit with families staying at the hospital while they are there? We should be proud of its state-of-the-art facilities and nothing would be better respite for patients than a visit from royalty.
The George Harcourt Inn at Gold Creek could provide the royal parents with a rest and some comfort food (the Guinness pot pie gets rave reviews) before they tour Cockington Green – a mandatory delight for adults and kids alike.
Not that we are going to push the whole George thing too far.
There is so much to see and do in Canberra that many of us will feel a little pang of regret the celebrated couple won’t experience the city as we would like them to.
Were it not an official two-day whistle-stop tour, and were it not going to be subject to the sort of intense international media scrutiny that follows the uber couple wherever they go, wouldn’t it be lovely to fit in some of the following highlights?
A rainforest to desert tour at the Botanic Gardens where Prince George can see, hear and smell our unique plants and animals while being just five minutes from the CBD.
Speaking of which, surely Kate, a known Zara addict, would love (as any new mum would) five minutes alone in our massive Zara store in the Canberra Centre?
It is one of the largest and best laid out of the Spanish fashion chain, and the Canberra Centre’s well-thought out baby changing areas mean Prince William should have no trouble if a nappy situation arises.
The autumn weather will be perfect for a jaunt down Lonsdale Street in Braddon where Canberra’s obsessive coffee culture and hipster ethos is in full swing.
While the royal couple do have an event scheduled in at the National Portrait Gallery while they are here, it’s a shame Kate can’t take her pram and baby to A Little Look at Art – for mums with littlies under 12 months. Enjoy a tour of the latest exhibitions with a chat over coffee and muffins afterwards to discuss Degas and digestion, as you do.
Just across the road, Prince George would surely delight in Mini Q – the Questacon section for munchkins. There is water play, tons of moving parts and colourful toys, all encased in soft cushioned, corner-free surrounds.
The Duke could duck around to the Aboriginal tent embassy to pay his respects to the first Australians.
Then arvo tea at the Hyatt is always nice, and Prince George can roll on the grass under the wisteria.
The one scheduled official event that makes perfect sense is the tree-planting scheduled on the 24th at the Arboretum where they will fittingly add a Royal Oak tree (Quercus robur) to the growing collection. This place is distinctly Canberran, forward-thinking in its design and a fitting place for royalty to gaze out on our sweeping slopes.
At eight months, the prince is going to be too young to brave the acorn pods and climbing frames. But we bet the royal couple makes a mental note on what a brilliant children’s installation it is - perhaps for future visits.
Meanwhile, we dearly hope that someone has the good sense to shop for a delicious and local handmade baby gift from Shop Handmade to mark the first visit to Canberra by Prince George.
Co-owners Julie Nichols and Rachael Evagalou have nominated the popular Canberra baby onesie, which lists all our best local attractions, as the perfect gift. At $29.95 it’s a steal.
Who gets nanny duties?
Sportsbet have opened the market on who will be baby George’s nanny during the Australia as anyone would know how difficult those overseas royal tours are without help.
The Duke and Duchess are tipped to keep the role in house, with Carole Middleton priced as the $2.10 favourite.
Pippa Middleton may also be called up for the role at $3.00, while the Queen herself is also in the market at $21.
How seriously we take these odds is questionable when you see the original nanny Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) is priced at $41 ahead of Mrs Doubtfire (Robin Williams) at $101.
In what would be Christmas for the Aussie tabloids, Sportsbet have also priced at $6.00 the odds that Kate will announce she is pregnant with her second child while in Australia, with $2.25 priced that 2015 will be the year their second child is born.
