Prince William practised his kicking with Charlie Hodgson

The prince, 23, is carrying out his first solo engagements during his 10-day visit to the region.

William practised his kicking with fly-half Charlie Hodgson and coach Dave Alred at the Basin Reserve ground in the capital, Wellington.

The prince donned a red and blue Lions team tracksuit and kicked out of his hands as well as into a net.

He was coached by Alred, who helps Jonny Wilkinson hone his technique.

Hodgson described William as a "very down-to-earth bloke".

We soon settled into the normal routine, like any other session Charlie Hodgson Lions' fly-half Pictures of William's tour

"I enjoyed the session, I was bit nervous at first with all the media there. You know that you get similar numbers at a game but you don't notice them because of the crowd.

"But we soon settled into the normal routine, like any other session.

"William was a very down-to-earth bloke, whose skill and accuracy improved as the session progressed."

The prince also attended a tree-planting ceremony.

William laughed and joked with the press pack.

He asked one photographer: "How many of these have you seen, a few hundred?"