Royal Watch News

Prince Charles to meet Peter Jackson

Oct 23, 2012, 11:02 GMT

Prince Charles and Camilla

Britain's Prince Charles is to meet 'The Hobbit' director Peter Jackson.

The future king is a huge fan of the best-selling book by J.R.R. Tolkien and during a forthcoming trip to New Zealand with the Duchess of Cornwall, he will get to visit the studio where Peter is putting the finishing touches to the eagerly-anticipated film.

In the story, hobbit Bilbo Baggins - played by Martin Freeman - has particularly hairy feet because hobbits walk barefooted and Charles is excited about seeing his foot.

A source told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'The prince is a great fan of children's literature and Tolkien is one of the great icons of children's literature. He and the duchess have seen Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' films and the Prince has said he is very much looking forward to seeing Bilbo Baggins's foot.'

On their Australasia tour next month, Charles and Camilla will visit New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea on the last of the royal family's Diamond Jubilee tours of Commonwealth countries.

During the 13-day tour the royal couple will also visit the Australian outback, while Camilla will present the Melbourne Cup to the winner of the famous horse race, and the couple will attend a reception at Sydney Opera House.