Prince George is to receive a surfboard gift when he visits Australia with his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The eight-month-old royal will visit the country as well as New Zealand 7 April – 25 April as part of a special tour Down Under, and the Manly region’s Mayor Jean Hay has revealed a six-foot item will be on its way to him soon.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince George will receive a surfboard
However, at such a young age, the baby will have a wait a while until he is big enough to use the board which will have a message saying, “Greetings from Manly – Surf City Australia”.“I wanted something that really represented Manly and its people,” she said. “It will be a nice souvenir for years to come — maybe they will hang it up in his nursery until he’s old enough to use it.”
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe group will embark on a Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand
The present will also feature a picture of the beautiful beach and is being formed at Bennett Surfboards in Brookvale. Co-owner Greg Bennett told Australia’s Daily Telegraph that he is thrilled about whose hands the surfboard is likely to end up in.
“We send boards all over the world but I can’t say we’ve made one for Buckingham Palace,” he said. “I suppose it will become an heirloom — a real memento.”
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe board will feature an image of the Manly area
Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive in New Zealand with their son first before heading onto Australia on 16 April. They will be in Manly on 18 April to visit children’s hospice Bear Cottage and the beach.
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester visited the same region in 1934. Additionally, the Queen Mother was at the surf carnival there in 1958, plus Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne went to the Royal Far West Hospital during a trip in 1970.
