Prince William, Duchess Catherine and Prince George will have a damp start to their tour of New Zealand.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to touchdown in Wellington with their young son today.
They will arrive at the Military Terminal at Wellington Airport at around 11.45am, beginning a 10-day tour.
The Governor-General's office says the best vantage point for the public would be to line the footpath around the bays as that will be the route the Royal couple will drive to Government House.
But while crowds of well wishers are expected to give them a warm welcome, the weather has other plans. Low cloud with occasional rain or drizzle is forecast for the capital today, with a strengthening southerly set to bring a chill across the country.
Prince William has visited New Zealand four times in the past, but it will be the Duchess of Cambridge's first visit to the country, and her son's first overseas trip.
The visit comes 31 years since a nine-month-old William was set loose on the lawns of Government House in Wellington with an iconic Buzzy Bee toy as his parents, Prince Charles and Diana, looked on. George will be nine months on April 22.
Preparations for the Royal visit have not been without controversy.
First, Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae's office this week tweeted a detailed outline of the couple's plans along with maps of their intended routes.
The former head of Royal Protection for the Metropolitan police, Dai Davies, criticised the release of the routes, telling TV ONE's Breakfast that he was "concerned" about the safety of the Duchess of Cambridge and baby Prince George as a result.
But the former bodyguard for Princess Diana, Ken Wharfe, rejected the comments made by his former colleague, telling Breakfast "Dai was an office-bound chief with not a great deal of practical experience".
He says he has absolute confidence in the country's police force and security teams tasked with protecting them.
Then, child health organisation Plunket installed a front-facing baby seat for George, when best practice for an 8-month-old is for it to face backward.
Seven times the number of British journalists are making their way to New Zealand to cover the tour than two years ago when Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles visited.
onenews.co.nz will live stream the arrival of Prince William, George and Catherine.
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