Prince Andrew, the Duke of York may not be as well known as his popular nephews in some circles, but His Royal Highness won over a legion of new fans in Wollongong on Tuesday.

[All the photos from Wollongong’s royal visit]

Among them was 16-year-old St Mary’s Star of the Sea College student Shari Heffernan.

‘’He is the first member of the Royal Family that I've met, but he is my favourite now,’’ Shari said, after Prince Andrew presented her with the inaugural The Duke of York - Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (IDEA) Bronze Winner certificate. 

The Duke of York also made a good impression on his Wollongong hosts and showed he enjoyed a laugh, even at his own expense.

At one stage he even had those people at a civic reception held in his honour at Wollongong Art Gallery, roaring with laughter.

Even the butt of his joke, Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery had a chuckle.

[Relive Prince Andrew’s Wollongong visit]

When welcoming Prince Andrew to Wollongong, the usually polished performer Cr Bradbery stumbled over his words and uttered ‘’thanks to my speech writer, my speech is all over the place’’.

Enter the Duke of York, who piped up with ‘’does your speech writer leave you a blank sheet of paper and say you’re on your own?’’

After the crowd burst into laughter, Prince Andrew returned and said ‘’it happens to me all the time’’.

This comment again elicited laughter, as did the Lord Mayor’s closing remarks.

‘’You have to excuse me when I say, no disrespect intended but Andy, welcome to the city of Wollongong, have a great time mate and give our regards to your mum,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

Smiles and laughs seemed to be a common theme during the Prince’s Wollongong visit.

The Duke’s busy schedule included launching the University of Wollongong’s Global Leaders Education and Development (GoLEaD) Program.

He mingled with guests and young leaders of the future, including 100 of the Illawarra’s top HSC performers.