Prince William flew "cattle class" under the pseudonym Mr Pinkerton-Smith during his recent visit to New Zealand, it has emerged.
The Prince and his security team are understood to have taken their seats with
other passengers in the economy class cabin of an Air New Zealand Boeing 737
on the flight from Auckland to the earthquake-stricken city of Christchurch.
Air New Zealand have refused to confirm the media reports, a spokesman saying
only: "We don't release details regarding individual customers."
The revelation will only enhance the Prince's soaring reputation in a country
that prides itself on a tradition of egalitarianism.
The Prince spent five days visiting people in disaster-ravaged regions of New
Zealand and Australia last week, in what his aides described as an "emotionally
raw" tour.
His visit has been well received in both countries, especially since he was
seen casually dressed talking to local people and shaking hands in the
streets of the worst-hit areas.
His easy-going charm and empathy with the grieving resonated widely and have
clearly boosted the popularity of the monarchy Down Under.
In Christchurch, the Prince attended a memorial service for the 182 people
believed to have died in the February 22 earthquake that flattened large
parts of the city.
John Key, the Prime Minister, said the Prince's visit had underscored his
commitment to New Zealand and was met with much enthusiasm and goodwill from
New Zealanders.
Under the headline "New Zealand finds fresh heir in Prince Wills",
an editorial in the New Zealand Herald, the country's biggest selling
newspaper, said: "The day has long gone when a royal visitor can win
affection in this corner of the realm simply by coming here, though even
that was becoming a rare gesture until Prince William came of age.
"In him we have met a future king who knows when he should be here and,
even more important, seems comfortable when he is here."
The paper's editorial concluded: "The man New Zealand has seen over the
past few days may be the saving of the British monarchy in distant
English-speaking realms. He is at home here."
Christchurch was especially touched to learn that its earthquake relief fund
has been named as one of the charities to which guests at the wedding of
Prince William and Kate Middleton are invited to donate.
The Queen is also known to have made an undisclosed "substantial"
personal contribution to the fund.
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