Prince Charles and Camilla have touched down in Australia after a successful New Zealand tour, but before they flew out, 40 teenagers aboard the Spirit of New Zealand were told a surprise guest was coming aboard.
Although the young sailors were happy to meet the prince, some admitted they initially thought they were about to meet American rapper Chris Brown.
"The captain, Nick, said we've got a surprise and he told us tomorrow we're meeting someone special," says Conor Stumbles, from Dunstan High School.
"They're like 'who's in New Zealand at the moment?' and everyone's like 'Chris Brown'," says Campbell Holt from Auckland.
With no internet on the five-day youth development trip, the 14- and 15-year-olds from around New Zealand had little to go on.
"We were like 'ah we're going to see some whales' and they were like 'you're going to see Prince Charles' and we were like 'wow that's so cool'," recounted Phoenix Littin, from Okaihau College.
There were nerves during the unscheduled port of call, and while Charles threw in the odd curly question he really wanted to know how the teens were chosen to go on the voyage, and if they were skipping exams.
He even gave them a royal pardon, suggesting they blame him if they fail.
Camilla, battling a cold, couldn't make it, but it's hard to beat an encounter with a prince.
Charles and Camilla have made it to several parts of the country, but not Northland or Alexandra. Half those on board are from those regions, so tomorrow those from Okaihau College in the north and Dunstan High in the south will go home with bragging rights.
"We're just going to be famous down there," says Susannah Rendall. "Everyone comes to the North Island, but not to Alexandra," added her friend Brooke Bennie.
The royal couple have now bid New Zealand goodbye, leaving in their wake a group of teens who've actually decided that maybe Prince Charles is just as cool as Chris Brown.
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