As Canberra excitedly waits for the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and baby Prince George later this month, minds may be returning to the 1983 royal visit to Australia when Prince William travelled Down Under for the first time with his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
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We stumbled across an hilarious report of Charles and Di's visit to Canberra 31 years ago on YouTube, we assume by a genuine, snooty-voiced correspondent from the UK. (We don't think it's a spoof, although it does sound very The Goodies-ish).
The correspondent made several droll, deadpan observations as the royal couple toured Canberra. When then prime minister Bob Hawke and his wife Hazel greeted the royals in Canberra, the reporter said Mr Hawke had promised a new style of government for Australia and then segued into "and his personal style seems to include holding hands with his wife on ceremonial occasions like greeting the prince and princess". The horror!
Then he described Charles and Di visiting "Canberra's civic centre which bears an uncanny resemblance to Croydon". Not a compliment people. Croydon would go on to be named in 2008 the "chavviest town" in England. Or in our language, the most bogan town in the country.
The news report captured a lone protester in Canberra yelling out "How much did this trip cost?". The journalist said Princess Di was ushered by Charles to the other side of the crowd, "but didn't answer the question, not being an accountant". We have to admit, that is pretty funny. Instead, the princess "chatted to housewives" about her fading "outback sunburn".
Then it was on to The Lodge – "a pretty house" – for the requisite photo call on the doorstep of the royals with the prime minister and spouse. "With Mr Hawke's wife, Hazel, coming reluctantly from the front door, perhaps because she was worried about the veal escalopes," our man on the scene tells us. Pure gold.
We can look forward to more stellar royal reporting when Prince William and Kate and baby Prince George touch down in Canberra on Easter Sunday, April 20. Their main official duties in Canberra will be on April 24 and 25.
Entertaining royalty child's play for Potter
More on the royals. The Canberra Times dance critic Michelle Potter had a one-on-one encounter with Prince George as she was on the same Qantas flight from London to Sydney (via Dubai) as the royal entourage.
Michelle told us she had an economy ticket but was upgraded to business thanks to a heap of frequent flyer points. She had been in London researching her upcoming book on Dame Margaret Scott, the founder of the Australian Ballet School, and was working on her laptop in a little lounge at the front of business class, which had steps leading down to first class.
She noticed a woman bring up a baby from first class and she started chatting and "doing peek-a-boo" with the youngster. The woman and baby went back downstairs. Later on, the baby returned back upstairs, this time carried by another woman.
"I looked at her and I realised it was Kate Middleton," she said. Michelle kept chatting to the baby and eventually asked, "Am I looking at a prince?' and Kate said, ‘Yes.'," Michelle said. "She was lovely and chatting to another woman with a baby. She was being just like a mum.
"George then spied my laptop and bright blue pen and seemed like he wanted to add a few words to my manuscript. I'm a grandmother and I know how babies like to have a bang on the computer. But mum didn't think that was such a good idea."
Michelle told us Prince George seemed very robust and well-behaved.
"He's a dear little boy," she said. "He's quite a strong little baby. He didn't cry. He was very active and very inquisitive. His nurse was holding his two hands and letting him walk around the lounge. It was just lovely."
The whole encounter had been "a thrill".
"I feel my manuscript has been blessed by royalty," she said, with a laugh.
No pods for prince
And straight from the media folk at Kensington Palace, we are told that "there are no plans" for Prince George to accompany his parents on a visit to the National Arboretum Canberra on April 24.
That's a bit of a shame because we're sure he would have enjoyed the Pod Playground. Maybe not the death-defying slide but perhaps playing in the sandpit or having a go on the big swing – just like the one his uncle, Prince Harry, had fun on in London recently.
Wedding prize on the vine
Twenty-one couples are nervously awaiting to see if they will win a $30,000 wedding at Flint in the Vines at Murrumbateman.
This is the last weekend supporters can vote for their favourite couple at outincanberra.com.au.
People are asked to cast their vote for the couple they feel has the best love story – even down to one woman sending a text to her partner asking him to marry her. He happened to be on the toilet at the time.
The prize includes venue to food to dress hire to photography to celebrant to DJ.
Monday will see 15 couples progress to the next round. Then to final five. And the winner will be announced on May 7.
Call for top dog's sidekick
Has your dog got some acting chops? This could be their big break!
The Free Rain Theatre Company is holding a casting call in Canberra on April 23 to try to find a friend for Bruiser to appear in its production of Legally Blonde.
Bruiser is the chihuahua in the show and that role has already been cast. But the search for his friend is wide open.
So bring your dog for morning tea at 11am on April 23 at the dog-friendly Yarralumla Gallery and the Oaks Brasserie, Cottage 1, Weston Park Road, Yarralumla Nursery. You can meet the director, Elle and Bruiser and your pooch better get used to stardom as the media will be there too. Bookings essential on 0418 249 658 or email cfw@ozemail.com.au.
Dark side to reviewer's doctorate
Congratulations to Panorama film writer Simon Weaving – now Dr Weaving thank you very much – who graduated from the University of Canberra on Friday with a doctor of philosophy. His thesis was on Writing an Australian Film Noir.
Anzac focus for students
Canberra Institute of Technology floristry students have been busy this week working on one of the special details of Anzac Day in Canberra.
The 24 first-year students have crafted 750 boutonnieres for VIPs to wear at the national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on April 25, entwining sprigs of rosemary (for remembrance) with a silken poppy (for sacrifice). And the VIPS this year include, of course, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
What's on
- Canberra residents and businesses can dump their old TVs, computers, printers and other e-waste for free at an e-waste recycling service organised by TechCollect on Saturday from 9am to 4pm. The drop-off point is at 23 Mildura Street, Fyshwick, opposite the Fyshwick fresh food markets.
- The Hustle and Scout twilight fashion market is on Saturday at New Acton from 3pm to 8pm. The Forage foodie festival will be on at the same time.
- The Lake Tuggeranong Lions Club Tuggeranong Homestead markets are on Sunday from 9am to 2pm in Johnson Drive, Calwell.