Prince Charles on tour Down Under

1 of 11 Prince Charles began his five-day tour to five Australian cities in Western Australia's state capital.

2 of 11 In a speech at the Royal Perth Hospital he said he was happy to be back in "good old Perth".

3 of 11 He met staff who used pioneering techniques to treat victims of the Bali bomb, and the patients they cared for, including Melinda Kemp.

4 of 11 About 200 people turned out to see the Prince - some offering congratulations on his recent engagement.

5 of 11 Well-wisher Esperance Vanderham had a warmer welcome, reminiscent of the 1979 visit when he was pounced on by a bikini-clad model on a beach.

6 of 11 But the visit has also fuelled republican arguments for an Australian head of state to replace the Queen.

7 of 11 The prince was shown a Western Australian rock lobster during his visit of the Lobster Australia company's site...

8 of 11 But asked by the press pack to "hold the lobster up higher for the cameras", he warned there were limits.

9 of 11 Prince Charles studies a giant stuffed fish at the Maritime Museum at Freemantle Harbour.

10 of 11 At the Maritime Museum, he came face to face with an Australian cultural icon - the surfers' panel van.

11 of 11 Prince Charles visits the outback town of Alice Springs next, followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. He then leaves Australia for New Zealand and Fiji.