An extra strong police guard was put on the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, when he arrived in Sydney, Australia on Thursday night (16 March) after the discovery of two bombs in the city.

His route into Sydney from the airport was changed at the last minute after one bomb was found at the Central Railway Station and another along the original route.

A policeman said the bombs -- sticks of gelignite wrapped in newspaper -- were found after a man demanding money telephoned the office of New South Wales Premier Sir Robert Askin. But, the spokesman denied that the bombs were linked with the Royal visit. The Duke is in Australia on a 17-day visit in his capacity as President of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

SYNOPSIS: The personal standard of the Duke of Edinburgh flew from this Australian Air Force 'plane as it arrived in Sydney on Thursday. The Duke stepped from the 'plane amid increased security precautions by local police following the discovery of two bombs in the city. The Duke, who is on a seventeen day visit to Australia in his capacity as President of the Conservative Foundation, was greeted by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler.

One of the bombs -- sticks of gelignite wrapped in newspaper -- was found in Sydney's Central Railway Station. A man demanding money telephoned the location of the bomb to the office of the Premier of the province.

The anonymous caller also said that this waste bin contained an explosive device.... On a busy street in the centre of Sydney, this was to be the route Prince Philip would take when he travelled from the airport. Army and police bomb disposal experts worked to disarm the explosives. The bomb was sophisticated in design and could have been set off by anyone tampering with it... Prince Philip's route was diverted away from the area, and extra security precautions were added.