William came on his own time (the prince is training to be a helicopter rescue pilot, and he's on vacation now) and the Queen picked up the tab, so Australia did not have to pay.
The prince had no formal duties, such as opening the new Supreme Court building in New Zealand, and made just one official (and amusing) speech, at Government House in Melbourne on Thursday.
The idea that the palace wasn't watching to see how the prince was received, as it were, well, that's just silly.
Prince William is second in line to the throne. He will one day be the king of England, and 15 other realms, Australia among them. Actuaries point out that his crowning may yet be some time away: his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, is 83, in good health, and still on the throne. Her mother, the Queen Mother, lived to be 101. Charles hasn't had his go yet, so yes, William may not be crowned for another 40 or 50 years.
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