Prince William will visit New Zealand and Australia next week to tour areas devastated by recent natural disasters.
The prince, representing the Queen, will travel to Christchurch where more than 160 people died in an earthquake last month.
He will also go to Greymouth, near the site of the Pike River mine disaster in New Zealand in which 29 people died.
William will then travel to Australia, where he will visit areas hit by flooding in Queensland and Victoria.
The prince will not be accompanied by his fiancee Kate Middleton on the trip which takes place from March 17-21.
William will attend a national memorial service in Christchurch.
St James’s Palace said, "The Royal Family have been watching the natural disasters with the same shock and sadness as everyone else.
"They wanted to show their solidarity with the people of New Zealand and Australia, and the decision was taken with the prime ministers’ offices and the royal household that Prince William should attend and visit the countries."
