Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visit the Christ Church Cathedral site to hear details of its planned reinstatement.

Prince Charles brought more than just smiles and waves when he visited Christchurch on Friday.

Charles, who spent the day meeting and greeting locals with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has made a "substantial" donation to the damaged Christ Church Cathedral.

The prince accepted a request to be royal patron of the cathedral reinstatement, but the size of his cash donation remains under wraps for now.

Pool The Wizard casts his spell on a charming Prince Charles.

He drew a laugh, saying: "Hopefully I'll be alive when it's completed."

Bishop Peter Carrell said they were "thrilled" at the "substantial donation" and the royal patronage would boost the multimillion-dollar project. Charles will take over from the Queen as head of the Anglican Church when he becomes monarch.

Department of Internal Affairs Prince Charles met some four-legged locals during a walk through Cathedral Square.

The royal couple began their day at Tuahiwi Marae, north of Christchurch, where they wore korowai and were welcomed with a haka pōwhiri by children from Tuahiwi Primary and Rangiora and Kaiapoi High schools.



They were presented with two sculptures by artist Fayne Robinson carved from stones from the Ashley River-Rakahuri.

Tuahiwi Primary teacher Rangi Tutengaehe said some of his younger pupils "had never heard of Charles before" but "when they found out he could become the King, they knew this was a big deal".



Next stop for the couple, accompanied by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, was Cashmere High School to speak to students including those affected by the March mosque shootings.

The prince declined to answer media questions about his brother Andrew, who is embroiled in a scandal over claims of teenagers trafficked for sex.

Pool An animated Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joins Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall for a reception for Christ Church Cathedral at Tūranga Library.

Charles offered the school "heart-felt condolences on the cruel and tragic loss" of the mosque attacks, and said he was proud of how New Zealanders had banded together afterwards.

Head boy Okirano Tilaia said the visit "meant a lot, not only for the school but for the city and this country".

In the early afternoon the royal couple visited the central library, Tūranga. The Duchess listened to children read their poetry and said she was "hugely impressed by the amount of talent in the room".

Pool Selfies with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Bystander Leila Coles said she was not a royalist but described meeting the Duchess as "just lovely".

Charles shook hands with well-wishers in Cathedral Square including The Wizard of New Zealand, then made a site inspection of Christ Church Cathedral where he was welcomed by choristers and spoke at a reception.

Later in the day Camilla visited the Riverside Market where she judged a piece of Marlborough-reared salmon to be "delicious" and owner Richard Peebles said he was "nervous as a schoolboy" about the visit.

Pool Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall puts on a pinny to join in a cooking class at Riverside Market .

She then headed to the Salvation Army where she helped cook a meal and watched elderly ballet dancers the Silver Swans.

"I've actually done it [ballet] myself back in England but I know how difficult it is and I'm so impressed by the way they danced today," she said.

Charles visited Lincoln University, speaking for more than five minutes about climate change and the damage done to the environment.



He said: "We have reached a tipping point and we still have the ability to change course but only 10 years ... We have abused nature, exploited her and given her nothing back in return."

CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES Prince Charles and Camilla at Tuahiwi Marae.

On Saturday the Prince will head to Kaikōura, while the Duchess will remain in Christchurch to visit the Battered Women's Trust and the Botanic Gardens.

The Department of Internal Affairs Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Tuahiwi Marae, north of Christchurch, on Friday.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Charles at Tuahiwi Marae.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images A welcome to Cashmere High School for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Pool High-fives for Prince Charles at Cashmere High School.

Pool Cashmere High School head boy Okirano Tilaia sits alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Pool Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits Cashmere High School where he met with some of the families of those killed in the mosque shootings.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meets choir members at an Active Elderly engagement at the Salvation Army Centre.

Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images Large crowds gather in the Square to catch a glimpse of the Royals.

Pool Prince Charles unveils a plaque for the Christ Church Cathedral with bishop Peter Carrell.

Pool Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall with one of the finalists in the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2019 during a literacy event at Turanga Library.

Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images A strong security presence for the Royal visit to Tuahiwi Marae.