THE ROYALS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA THE Barossa opened its hearts - and its cellars - to the royal couple, who yesterday began a whirlwind Australian tour sampling the best of the Valley's famed wines and greeting wellwishers who lined Tanunda's historic main street.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in the Barossa from New Zealand early yesterday afternoon, where more than 3000 locals, including 1200 schoolchildren, turned out in the warm spring weather to see them. 
Among them was a former royal maid, carrying a sign thanking the Prince for a special dance. Clare Morrow, 48, was reunited with her former boss 20 years after she worked at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Ms Morrow, a mother of two from Clarence Gardens, worked for the royal family for 15 months between   November 1992 and   February 1994, and travelled to the Barossa with a homemade sign thanking the Prince for a special dance at the Ghillies Ball thrown by the Queen in 1993.
The Duchess first spotted the sign and pointed it out to Prince Charles "She thought it was hilarious and she said 'I will have to get Charles to come and see it," Ms Morrow said.
The Prince, 66, was suitably amused but confessed he could not remember the dance; it was so long ago, he said.
In another personal touch, the Duchess - wearing a cream and black ensemble made by one of her favourite English designers, Anna Valentine - responded to a sign in the crowd from Mitch Ralph, 48, who boasted a royal connection.
The woman, who emigrated from Britain to Lyndoch in the 1980s, was a friend of Camilla's daughter's nanny, which the Duchess, 68, said she was "delighted" to hear.
The wines flowed during the Barossa Valley leg of their fleeting South Australian visit, starting at Tanunda where they were presented with a bottle of 2010 Hill of Grace red wine by the mayor, Bob Sloane. "I'm looking forward to tasting it some time soon," the Prince said.
During a brief "welcome to country" from Ngadjuri elder Quenten Agius, the Prince and Duchess were given a sprig each of peppermint gum as a traditional greeting.
"It will come in handy to keep the flies off," the Prince joked. As part of his tour of the town's square, the Prince sipped shiraz made by two students from Faith Lutheran College and Nuriootpa High School, and diplomatically refused to choose between them.
Later at Seppeltsfield, the royal couple shared a lighthearted moment when the Duchess appeared to threaten the next-in-line to the throne with a carving knife.
"Now listen here," the Prince joked as the Duchess waved the 20cm knife inches from his face.
They were then taken to the Seppeltsfield barrel room to sample vintages put down in the years of their birth - 1947 and 1948 - and a 1915 Centenary Tawny. They joked about whose was the better year with Charles describing his as "strong and bold" and the Duchess as "refined and elegant".
On arrival at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Edinburgh, on a modified Boeing 737, the couple were treated like any other traveller when they were forced to fill out a Customs form. At Tanunda, the Prince and Duchess, who were 20 minutes late, made their way along the crowds, many of them waving flags, shaking hands and exchanging greetings in the warm weather.
"I don't believe it," Prince Charles said, when confronted with a large and faded photo of himself and sister Princess Anne as children. The owner of the photo, Ken Jacobs, 64, of Collinswood, estimated he had "several thousand" pieces of royal memorabilia.
Among the wellwishers was Jennifer Pump, 57, from Bolivar Gardens, a veteran of five South Australian royal tours, including Princess Diana who visited with Prince Charles in the late 1980s - she was wearing pink, Ms Pump remembered - and last year's visit by the younger Royals, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
"I'm an old royalist, I love Charles," said Ms Pump, who wants Charles to become King.
"He's been groomed for it and he's ready for it. He deserves his chance." At Seppeltsfield, the couple spent more than an hour talking to Barossa Valley winemakers, artisans and food producers, including celebrated local identity Maggie Beer.
The prince also revealed that his two grandchildren were "going really well". Royal sources told The Advertiser last night that the couple were delighted with the crowds.
"They are just pleased anybody comes out to see them. They have been looking forward to returning to South Australia." After spending the night in Sydney, the couple will today honour the memory of indigenous war hero Maitland Madge at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
As part of Remembrance Day commemorations, the couple will place a poppy on the bronze Roll of Honour.
They will also visit the National Museum before meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Royal tour diary Today: CANBERRA Highlights: Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, visit to the National Museum of Australia and meetings with senior politicians.
Tomorrow: SYDNEY Highlights: NSW police event, leadership meetings, a Government House reception and a dinner hosted by the Governor-General.
Friday: Rest day Saturday: PERTH, ALBANY Highlights: Visit to a winery, agricultural show, local Anzac centre, a BBQ at Cottesloe Beach to celebrate Prince Charles' 67th birthday.
Sunday: PERTHHighlights: Church service and visits to various government offices.