ROYAL FEVER infected the nation as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and young Prince George touched down in Sydney this week.
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On their 10-day whirlwind visit to Australia, they will see everything, from the beach to the bush, Uluru and Taronga Zoo, and can expect huge crowds and a mob of media to accompany them.
Bathurst Historical Society president Alan McRae said he thought William and Kate had made the royal family more popular then they had been in years.
“I think they’ve probably done more for the Royal family’s image than anyone in a long time,” he said.
“I think they are a really nice couple and she always looks immaculate. I think they will be very popular here in Australia.”
Mr McRae said Australia had been a popular destination for royals to visit over the years.
“Bathurst, in particular, has had a number of visits by Royals over the year,” he said.
He said there were some great photos of people waiting out in the street to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II when she came to Bathurst in 1954 and 1952.
Mr McRae said it would be wonderful to see the Royals take an interest in speaking to locals.
“They really like to talk to the people and have a go at things,” he said.
Christopher Morgan from Abercrombie House agreed that people seemed to have a lot of time for William and Kate.
“They are enormously popular because they’re young, have a positive outlook and really interested in stories people have to share,” he said.
“One thing they have really done well is lend support to people in peril.”
Mr Morgan said while he was not a royalist, he thought it was important for the Royals to visit Australia, given our history with the United Kingdom.
“My parents generation in many cases were strongly royalist, perhaps because of strong memories from war time, by my generation are much more ambivalent about the royal family,” he said.
“I’m supportive though of what they are trying to do and like most Australians wish them well and welcome them with great Australian friendliness.”