Kate and William look back

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left Prince George in his temporary nursery for the first time on their tour of New Zealand as they headed to Blenheim to begin a day of engagements that brought the past and the future together.  Their first duty was to lay a wreath at the war memorial in Blenheim to remember all those from New Zealand who have died fighting in many conflicts.

Paying their respects, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge lay a wreath at the war memorial in Blenheim on April 10th 2014

The Duke and Duchess were also marking the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One and were wearing the official poppy symbol for New Zealand's commemorations.  They paused for a few minutes of reflection at the war memorial before and after laying their wreath.

The wreath left by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the war memorial in Blenheim, New Zealand

The couple, who had been greeted by crowds of around 5,000, then chatted to some of the war veterans who were present at the ceremony.

The Duchess of Cambridge speaking to war veterans during her visit to Blenheim

There was time for the first walkabout of the tour as well with William receiving lots of presents for Prince George and Kate chatting to lots of the children who had come along to see the royals.

The Duchess of Cambridge with some of the children she met on a walkabout in Blenheim

The couple then tried to make like royals of times past by nipping off for a spot of lunch while no one noticed.  Except it's now 2013 and everyone has a camera.  So their lunch at Wither Hills in Marlborough ended up becoming a media event even if the hosts respected protocol and refused to say what was on the menu.

Spotted!  An incognito lunch goes global as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave Wither Hills after their pitstop

Then it was time to see the past meet the present as they traveled to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre to see vintage planes and a display about aircraft from World War One put together by the Lord of the Rings director, Peter Jackson.  The Duke of Cambridge hopped on board a 1960s model of a Sopwith Pup to pose for pictures.

A face that says 'you're not having one' - Kate looks worried as William looks taken with the model Sopwith Pup he tried out at Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre

But the duchess got a close up all of her own as Peter Jackson decided to get a few shots of her as she watched her husband playing on the planes.  Just what you'd expect from an Oscar winning director - finding the shot no one else has.

The Duchess of Cambridge poses for film director, Peter Jackson

The Duchess was back in one of her favourite labels for the day, wearing a cornflower blue coat by McQueen.  But it was her decision to wear her hair in a looped ponytail that really grabbed everyone's attention - it's Kate's first different do of 2014.

Kate in one her favourite labels, McQueen, on her day in Blenheim

The couple then returned to Government House in Wellington where Prince William held separate, private audiences with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key and the leader of the opposition, David Cunliffe.

The Duke of Cambridge with the leader of the opposition in New Zealand, David Cunliffe, at an audience at Government House in Wellington

Just a few hours later it was time for the duke to make his first speech of the tour at a State Reception at Government House given in honour of the couple.  And just as Prince George has dominated proceedings so far, he was the main topic of the speech as well with the duke telling everyone that he thought his 'bonny' boy would grow up to play rugby (as a prop forward).  He also referred to the little prince's big lungs by telling them all that they might hear his son who was noisiest at night and who, he was sure, had been 'doing a haka' at three that morning.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a State Reception at Government House, Wellington 

The Duke of Cambridge then went on to unveil a new portrait of the Queen, the work of artist Nick Cuthell.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge admire a new portrait of the Queen which was unveiled during a State Reception in Wellington on April 9th 2014

The portrait shows the Queen in blue and wearing the fern brooch she was given by the women of Auckland in 1953 to mark her Commonwealth tour.  The fern is the symbol of New Zealand and the same brooch was worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on her arrival in the country.  And Kate paid tribute to her hosts by using the fern again on her latest outfit.  Her black cocktail dress had a fern motif embroidered on one shoulder.  The outfit, by Jenny Packham, was another nod to the people of New Zealand.

 The fern motif on Kate's cocktail dress paid tribute to her New Zealand hosts

The outfit was a popular choice in the local press and capped a successful day for the duke and duchess as their tour steps up a gear.  Past meeting future for royals who will have to steer the crown in the Commonwealth through changing times when William's turn as head of the House of Windsor eventually comes.