Prince William greets admirers in Sydney

Whether meeting dignitaries, greeting admirers and celebrities or just chatting
happily with children, Prince William is definitely his mother's son.
After flying in around noon (AEDT) on Tuesday for his first visit to Australia since
he was a toddler, the prince spent the early afternoon visiting Admiralty House, the
Sydney home of Governor-General Quentin Bryce.
Celebrities, including cricketer Michael Clarke and singer Delta Goodrem, were among
the guests invited to join the prince for a private lunch overlooking Sydney
Harbour.
But it was clear the future king was much more in his element when he visited The
Block in Redfern later in the day.
The second in line to the British throne was greeted with a traditional Aboriginal
smoking ceremony at the Redfern Community Centre, where up to 2,000 well wishers
looked on.
William arrived for the 10-minute ceremony about 15 minutes late, but no one was
disappointed.
"I was told we were running on palace time, but we are running on Koori time,"
quipped one woman in the crowd.
The mostly Aboriginal crowd clapped and cheered as the 27-year-old heir to the
throne arrived.
One woman, Barbara Selby, brought a large photo of the late Princess Diana meeting
her daughter and grandson when she was in Sydney to open the Victor Chang building
at St Vincent's Hospital in 1997.
"I'd like William to see it," she told AAP.
Ms Selby later said the prince kissed her on the cheek when he saw the photo,
despite cameramen and the royal's entourage blocking others from catching a glimpse
of him.
Lewis Kelly, from Kempsey on the NSW mid-north coast, was among the crowds with his
nephew, Dennis Wright.
"We're over the moon that he's come to this part of the city to spend time with us,"
he said.
"I was surprised when I heard it on the grapevine that he was coming here to see the
indigenous people, the real Australians."
A group of exuberant young men stood out in their "We love Willy" T-shirts.
"We are huge Willy fans," one cheekily insisted.
Prince William also spent about 15 minutes with about 30 young children at the
centre, where he read the Australian classic Possum Magic to them, played video
games and chatted and laughed with the excited kids.
Like his mother, the prince seemed completely at ease as many of the children sat
with him on a couch and bombarded him with questions and photo requests.
Nine-year-old Penelopee McGrath took the opportunity to ask him about the Queen.
"Does your grandmother live in a big castle?" she asked.
"She does," replied the prince.
Aboriginal leader Mick Mundine said the prince's visit had been amazing.
"It's such a blessing. You'd be amazed, he's such a respectful young man," Mr
Mundine told AAP.
"He's got the heart of his mother.
"(And he's) at home with the children.
"We've had a lot of pop stars here - Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson - but this is
royalty, sweetheart."
Prince William dined with NSW Governor Marie Bashir on Tuesday night before
preparing for another packed day on Wednesday.
His itinerary includes trips to Holsworthy Barracks to meet Australian soldiers,
then Sydney Harbour and finally a barbecue lunch hosted by Premier Kristina Keneally
in the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The premier says the event will be the best chance for Sydneysiders to catch a
glimpse of the prince.
He is also expected to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd early on Wednesday morning.
The prince will travel to Victoria on Thursday before returning to the UK on Friday.