Canberra - AFP
Prince Charles swapped expensive wine for local beer at a pub in Tasmania Thursday, as the heir to the British throne and his wife continued their tour of Australia. The royal couple visited the historic town of Richmond in the southern island state, part of their visit to mark Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee, and dropped in to the Richmond Arms Hotel to whet their whistle. Publican Clay Ackroyd said he was thrilled that they stopped by. "We're actually going to get their glass engraved and probably framed so, you know, it's one of those things that's probably not going to happen again," he told ABC radio. "So we're absolutely stoked." The pub visit came a day after the pair sipped a glass of 1962 Coonawarra Cabernet Kalimna Shiraz at a vineyard outside of Adelaide, which was later revealed to come from a rare bottle that sells for Aus$4,000 (US$4,100). Charles and Camilla are on the fourth day of their Australian tour and were greeted enthusiastically by hundreds of wellwishers who braved light rain Thursday. After refreshing himself at the bar, Charles found himself up close and personal with a flock of merino sheep at the Leenavale Stud near Hobart. The prince appeared genuinely interested and inspected the flock as it was mustered by the stud's dogs, spending about 20 minutes in the pen with the sheep as Camilla enjoyed a high tea with rural women. Charles and Camilla began the Australian leg of their tour in the remote Outback town of Longreach on Monday, following a successful visit to Papua New Guinea. They are due in Sydney and Canberra before leaving for New Zealand on Saturday.