Pulling into the picturesque lookout spot at 1.25pm, the couple was welcomed at the entrance by Randall Walker, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism, and Anthea Hammon, Joint Managing Director of Scenic World.
Ms Hammon, who accompanied them around the site, said afterwards, “It was really lovely to meet Kate. We had a little chat about George – she asked how big wombats really are, as the Governor General had given him a large stuffed toy wombat yesterday.
“I pointed out Mt Solitary and Jamison Valley from the lookout. She said the view was beautiful – it was amazing how far you could see.”
Looking relaxed, Prince William put his hand briefly on his wife’s shoulder as they were next presented to Eric Sward, President of the Blue Mountains Accommodation & Tourism Association, Councillor Daniel Myles, Chairman of Blue Mountains Lithgow Oberon Tourism, and Huong Nguyen, Owner of Escarpment Group.
Next the royal couple was presented with possum skins from three Aboriginal Elders representing the Indigenous landowners of Echo Point: Aunty Sharon Brown, of Gundungurra Tribal Council, Aunty Sharon Halls, of Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association, and Chris Tobin, of Darug.
At the end of the path, the couple stopped for a minute to enjoy clear views over The Three Sisters, an unusual rock formation representing three sisters who according to Aboriginal legend were turned to stone.
The couple spent the rest of their visit greeting the crowd, some of whom shouted “We love you” and waved Australian flags. Gifts to the couple included flowers, Easter eggs, sunglasses and handwritten poems.
William and Kate were mobbed by crowds.
Among a lucky group of children plucked from the crowd to meet The Royal Highnesses were Sydney sisters Alexandra Witting, 12, and Sophia Witting, nine, and Ainslie Zakis, 12, of Wentworth Falls.
“They asked what we were doing in the holidays and they said they were going to Taronga Zoo – they said Prince George would probably scare the animals away because he is so loud!” Ainslie said.
“I told Kate I thought she looked amazing at her wedding and she said she was so nervous by the time she got to the end of the aisle.”
Alexandra added, “It was a last minute decision to come up here today – but it was so worth it. I will never forget it.”
The last person the Duchess spoke to was Annabella Duncan, aged four, of Orange, who handed her a small bunch of flowers.
She, the Duchess, asked if the flowers were from our garden and I said we picked them this morning but we’ve been waiting three hours in the sun so they are a bit droopy! She was lovely about it,” her mother Angela said.
At 1.45pm the couple returned to their car to head to one more lookout before taking a helicopter back to Sydney to meet Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
