** Updated ** Oy, Down under! Mark your calendars!  Prince William will embark on his first official tour of the Commonwealth in January 2009, visiting Australia and New Zealand. “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,” Australia’s Prime Minister Paul Rudd said in a statement.

It’s also an indication that the 83-year-old Queen may be scaling back on her duties as Wills prepares to increase his official functions. Duncan Larcombe of the Sun quotes a Palace source: “Prince William has chosen a career in the RAF and has said he wants to commit to this for the next five years or so. But in reality this just isn’t likely to happen. William is fast approaching his 30s, and is coming under increasing pressure to take up the mantle as a full time working Royal. He may want to save people as a Search and Rescue pilot, but he has a far more important job to do relieving the workload of the Queen.”

The week-long tour with see William in Aukland and Wellington in January 17-19, and Sydney and Melbourne in January 19-21.

The visit, Prince William’s first since he travelled here as an infant in 1983 with Prince Charles and Diana, 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.

P.S.  Kate Middleton will NOT be joining him.

It’s about time we see Wills prioritize his future role as King.  His actions in the last few years hinted a degree of reluctance.  His decision to join SAR has had him accused of time-buying and hiding  behind the RAF.  I still believe he’s highly committed to the military and will serve a couple of years, but it’s good to see him able to balance things out.  The Queen & the Duke are in their 80s, and the RF might lose much of its appeal if Prince Charles solely took over.

Articles: The Sun | The Telegraph | Daily Mail | AFP

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