30 Apr 2011

Royal bride wants to visit NZ, says PM

12:05 pm on 30 April 2011

Prime Minister John Key says the Duchess of Cambridge has told him she would like to visit New Zealand.

Mr Key and his wife Bronagh attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, who has been made the Duchess of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey in London on Friday.

The Prime Minister said the highlight of the service for him was when the couple exchanged their vows.

After the service, he and Mrs Key attended the reception at Buckingham Palace, where the royal couple met Prime Ministers who had attended the wedding.

"The first thing Kate said to me is she wants to visit New Zealand ... so hopefully we can encourage her to come and visit some time very soon," Mr Key said.

However he said it was unlikely the royal couple would be spending their honeymoon in New Zealand.

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, New Zealander Sir Don McKinnon, was also a guest at Westminster Abbey.

He said the wedding has given a huge boost to the royal family's popularity.