OFFICIAL NEW ZEALAND TRIP FOR WILLS

William visited the country in a private capacity in 2005 to follow the British and Irish Lions rugby tour.

During that trip he performed his first solo engagement representing the Queen by laying a poppy wreath at the Wellington National War Memorial.

Next year's visit, scheduled for January, will mark the first time William has conducted a full formal visit.

The Prince will attend the official opening of the new Supreme Court building in Wellington and other engagements in Auckland and Wellington in a bid to build his ties with the country.

He will follow the New Zealand leg of his tour with an unofficial visit to Australia, his first to the country since he was a baby, where he will carry out engagements in Sydney and Melbourne.

He previously visited the country at the age of nine months with his parents on their official tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1983.