During his first overseas trip of 2010, Prince William will be visiting New Zealand and Australia.

The prince begins his itinerary with a three-day visit to New Zealand where he will represent his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. William will open the country’s new Supreme Court building in Wellington.

The prince will continue on to Australia, where he will give an Australia Day address at Government House in Melbourne. William has also requested to visit the areas that were severely damaged by bushfires.

The Prince last visited the region as a baby during his parents’ royal tour. Princess Diana had been unwilling to leave her infant son in England, and insisted on bringing him. Much to the delight of the Australian media and the public, baby William entertained all with his chubby cheeks and wide blue eyes. Now the 27-year-old Prince returns, bringing fond memories of his mother and their happy family unit of the early 1980s.

“Prince William’s visit to Australia has come about at his own request, to enable him to begin to get to know the country and the Australian people,” said Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the prince’s private secretary. “[His] father and brother both have very fond memories of Australia, its people, its lifestyle and its natural beauty, and Prince William wants to experience a little of that for himself, too.’