Britain's Prince William to visit Australia, New Zealand

Britain's Prince WilliamPrince William will embark on his first official tour of the Commonwealth in January, visiting Australia and New Zealand to ‘get to know’ the people, Prime Minister Kevin RuddKevin Rudd said on Monday.

Prince William, second in line to the British throne, will travel to Sydney and Melbourne from January 19-21 after opening New Zealand's new Supreme Court in Wellington.

"The visit originated from a request to the government of Australia by Prince William to visit the country so as to begin to get to know Australia and its people," Rudd said in a statement.

The visit, Prince William's first since he travelled here as an infant in 1983 with the Prince and Princess of Wales, is likely to renew debate about Australia's status as a constitutional monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II, New Zealand and Australia's head of state, is regarded with much affection here and Rudd, although an avowed republican, has said that cutting Australia's ties with the British monarchy is not a priority.

Prince William will meet a broad range of Australians as he focuses on his "core interests" of supporting defence personnel, helping young people fulfil their potential, and sustainable development, Rudd said.

"The Prince will also use the visit to learn more about local indigenous issues and visit the bushfire-ravaged countryside in Victoria," he added.

British media have reported that the 27-year-old prince has arranged the visit during a break in his training to become a helicopter pilot with the Royal Air Force.