JOHANNA PARSONS/Southland Times TIME TO GO: The Dutch royals - Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima - leaving their hotel after a three-day stay in Queenstown. Related Links Subscribe to Archivestuff
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Media in Queenstown were surprised yesterday when the Crown Prince of the Netherlands said his holiday in the resort was none of their business.
He was responding to a question about his holiday in the resort.
"It's none of your business, it's private," the Prince of Orange said as he got into a cream Mercedes at Eichardt's Boutique Hotel.
Just seconds earlier his Argentina-born princess, who is pregnant with the couple's third child, waved and smiled, saying she had "just loved" Queenstown.
Prince Willem-Alexander, heir to the Dutch throne, and Princess Maxima arrived in Queenstown on Saturday in a private jet.
Their three-day visit to the resort was not part of their taxpayer-funded official visit.
While in Queenstown, the royal pair stayed at the luxury Eichardt's Boutique Hotel on the lakefront.
Hotel general manager Victoria Shaw said the couple "loved the hotel and their time in Queenstown, but it was their private time and they requested they have their privacy while they were here".
Before leaving the hotel yesterday, Princess Maxima had her hair styled by Crew Haircutters executive hairstylist Tina Fuller.
Ms Fuller said the couple had spent time relaxing in the resort before a busy official trip to Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Auckland.
"She enjoyed shopping and they went on a helicopter trip," she said.
Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima are visiting New Zealand after an official visit to Australia. An official state welcome was held in the grounds of Government House in Wellington yesterday.
The heir to the Dutch throne, Prince Willem-Alexander of Orange, left New Zealand onlookers bemused with an apparent snub as he and his wife Princess Máxima started an official visit to New Zealand on Tuesday. 

Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima are visiting New Zealand after an official visit to Australia. An official state welcome was held in the grounds of Government House in Wellington yesterday.

As they left a hotel, in Queenstown, New Zealand's tourism capital, ending a three-day private holiday before embarking on their official tour of New Zealand, a radio reporter asked the prince about his impressions of New Zealand. 

"Mind your own business, it's private," was the curt reply, which drew gasps from onlookers, as the Prince of Orange got into a cream-coloured Mercedes.  Just seconds earlier, Princess Máxima  who is pregnant with the couple's third child, waved and smiled, saying she had "just loved" Queenstown. 

Hotel general manager Victoria Shaw said the couple "loved the hotel and their time in Queenstown, but it was their private time and they requested they have their privacy while they were here." 

One upset onlooker yelled "And don't come back" after the departing motorcade.

They left Queenstown in a bright orange private jet and will host their first reception in Wellington on Wednesday.
 
The couple are due to fly out for Singapore Saturday afternoon.