Prince William won popularity in visit to Australia

Prince William charmed sick children in New Zealand's capital Tuesday at the end of his first official visit representing his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The 27-year-old second in line to the throne flew out of Wellington Tuesday morning bound for Sydney for a three-day unofficial visit to Australia.

Prince William first visited the children's wards at Wellington Hospital, saying afterwards he had enjoyed the experience.

"Seeing kids smile means a lot to me," he told reporters.

Twelve-year-old Ethan Fagaloafa-Time, in hospital with a heart condition, said the prince was good company.

"I thought he'd be a bit up himself," he said. He added that the prince's accent was "pretty funny" and sounded "posh".

The prince proved a popular royal envoy on his visit to New Zealand, meeting All Blacks rugby players and sailing an America's Cup yacht in Auckland Harbour after arriving on Sunday.

After William opened a new Supreme Court Building in Wellington on Monday on behalf of the Queen -- New Zealand's head of state -- he went on a walkabout, shaking hands and chatting with some of up to 4,000 people gathered to see him.

A man working for a radio station breached security Monday night to sneak into a barbecue for William at Prime Minister John Key's official residence in Wellington, police said.

The 19-year-old man, who said he climbed over a fence into the residence as a prank, was stopped by police and questioned about half an hour before the prince arrived at the barbecue.

Jokes about boys