Brissie crowd goes wild for royals

Kate gets another gift for Prince George. Pic Darren England Source: News Corp Australia

A GROUP of protesters has failed to ruin the royal couple's Brisbane visit with thousands of people giving the couple an enthusiastic welcome.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew in to the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, west of Brisbane, about 11am, where an honour guard greeted them and there was a flyover of fighter jets.

The princess wore a "snorkel blue" Lasa Poppy Print Dress by one of her favourite designers L.K. Bennett. The dress retails for £245 ($440 AUD), and yes, it has now sold out.

Kate's choice of dress was a nod to the importance of the poppy, as a symbol of remembrance in the military community.

Catherine's dress is a nod to the importance of the poppy, as a symbol of remembrance for the military community. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

General David Hurley, Prince William, Princess Kate and Mrs Linda Hurley visit the RAAF Base Amberley. Pic Mark Cranitch. Source: News Corp Australia

Amberley Air Base is Australia's biggest operational military base and Defence Force chief David Hurley, and his wife Linda, greeted the couple on the tarmac.

A military band played God Save the Queen and the Australian national anthem.

The couple was also welcomed by Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley, Premier Campbell Newman and Defence Minister David Johnston.

Prince William inspected the members of the No1 Squadron. Source: News Corp Australia

The pair toured Squadron 1, which is the first Super Hornet squadron outside the United States.

Prince William spent seven and a half years in the RAF before retiring to take up official duties and happily stepped into the flight seat of one of the fighter aircraft.

The prince then stepped into the back seat - where the weapons are controlled, allowing Kate to take the pilot's seat. She spent some time in the cockpit, asking questions of her RAAF hosts.

Yes, it's hard to look ladylike climbing into the cockpit of a Super Hornet but Kate pulls it off. Photo: Anthony Devlin/PA Source: Supplied

Prince William and his wife then planted a tree in the memorial garden before meeting with four families who lost members during the military operation in Afghanistan.

The base's memorial garden honours the service and sacrifice of members of the Royal Australian Air Force and the tree planted was a Queensland native - the Plunkett mallee tree - and is the official floral emblem of Ipswich.

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An Airforce band plays as Prince Will Kate touch down at the Amberley RAAF Base in Queensland.

Wing Commander Paul Rickert, who is deputy honour guard commander, said some of the family members the royals met had not been back to Amberley since the ramp ceremony, the memorial service held for fallen soldiers at the airport.

"It's quite significant for those family members ... to have that closure and have this visit back to Amberley as a positive experience," he told ABC radio.

Widow Nicole Pearce said she was very honoured to meet the couple and that Kate was "absolutely beautiful, very easy to talk to".

"She asked how long David had been in the military for and how long he'd been overseas when he was killed," Ms Pearce told Nine News.

"She was sincerely quite sad for us to think David was only over there for two weeks when he was killed.

"She seemed very very genuine and she was very sweet."

Ms Pearce described it as a "bitter sweet" occasion.

"I'd rather have Dave here, and the reason we're here is because he's not.

"But I think he would be really proud, really honoured to think we had an opportunity like this. "It's not every day you get to meet royalty."

Prince William and Kate bow their heads in prayer after planting a tree. Photo by Dan Peled - Pool/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Afterwards the couple attended a civic reception in Brisbane and took a brief public walk.

About 10,000 people went wild for the couple at Brisbane's parkland precinct, cheering and chanting "Kate, Kate, Kate".

The adoring crowd, up to 20 people deep in some places, showered the couple with flowers and with gifts for Prince George.

Kate got a lot of love from the crowd at South Bank. Picture: Darren England Source: News Corp Australia

Cheers and shrieks followed the couple as they made their way along the route, under a clear blue sky and in 28C heat. The royals took their time the greeting thousands of well wishers.

The Duchess needed an army of helpers to pass on the gifts handed over security barricades - everything from modest posies of carnations, to stuffed kangaroos, chocolate bunnies, and a soccer ball bearing a map of Australia.

A very enthusiastic reception for William and Kate at South Bank. Picture: Annette Dew Source: News Corp Australia

It was a much more enthusiastic reception than a group of about 30 protesters hoped to give the couple just an hour before.

The Aboriginal land rights activists protested outside the Brisbane Convention Centre ahead of the couple's arrival. They held up signs, one of them read "give back what you stole", they called the royals dole bludgers and chanted "thieves".

About 50 police officers moved on the group of about 30 protesters, pushing them out of sight, ahead of the royal arrival.

One activist was ushered away after going behind barricades but police said no arrests had been made.

Security was tight around South Bank ahead of the couple's arrival, with snipers spotted on nearby roofs.

Snipers on the roof watching the 10,000 people in South Bank waiting for the arrival of Prince William and wife Kate. Photo: Supplied. Source: Supplied

The couple will return to Sydney tonight. Tomorrow they will attend a Easter Sunday church service and will visit Taronga Zoo.

Yesterday the couple spent the day at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and in Manly, visiting sick children at Bear Cottage before watching a lifesaving demonstration.

Radiant in a white lace dress by Australian designer Zimmermann, Catherine notably did not remove her Stuart Weitzman wedge heels for a stroll on Manly Beach.

She's a princess, of course she kept her heels on. Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Her previous day's outfit, a patterned dress by Diane von Furstenberg sold out within hours, but the Zimmermann's Roamer Day Dress will not be in stores until June

Catherine delivered her first speech in Australia after speaking with the young residents of Bear Cottage and said the haven for dying children was an inspiration.

"First-class delivery of children's palliative care is life-changing,'' she said, as the Prime Minister looked on with the new NSW Premier, Mike Baird.

Catherine's sure touch and gentle humour is the talk of the tour. While her husband spoke privately to the families, she spent time with the ill children, speaking quietly to them.

At the Royal Easter Show, the Duke and Duchess got a taste of regional Australia.

Checking out alpaca wool from the northern region, Catherine commented the fleece could make a good toupe for her husband.

A sellout, Catherine's Diane von Furstenberg dress was snapped up. Photo: AP Photo/Rob Griffith Source: AP

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