Prince William, Kate hit the beach on Sydney visit

Syndey: Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate got to grips with Australia's beach and bush lifestyles on Friday, watching a life-saving display and a sheep-shearing demonstration as part of their tour Down Under with baby son George.

The young royals have received a warm welcome in Sydney, the first stop of their 10-day Australian tour, with thousands flocking to their official reception at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday.

Thousands more craned for a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Royal Easter Show on Friday, where the glamorous couple viewed agricultural exhibits.

Kate, who was wearing a cream cotton lace dress by Australian brand Zimmerman, joked while inspecting an alpaca wool display that her husband's thinning hairline could do with some help from the fleece.

"She pointed at him and said 'You need it more than me.' He laughed," said Lyn Cregan, 67.

The pair are popular in Australia where William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and have been lavished with bouquets and gifts from the crowds, including many for eight-month-old George, who also travelled with them to New Zealand. "They're such a lovely couple. They're so much in love,"

Margaret Bryant from the country town of Cowra told the Australian Associated Press, having arrived in Sydney at 3:00 am to see the royals.

In her first speech of the visit, at the children's hospice Bear Cottage, Kate expressed gratitude for the warm welcome she and George have received on their first visit to Australia. "To be here together as a family has been very special and we will always remember it with fond and happy memories," she said.

The Duchess also praised Bear Cottage, describing its work as "inspirational".

It was then to Manly Beach where Sydney put on perfect autumn sunshine for a demonstration of surf life-saving.