Harry and Meghan’s Australian quasi-royal tour starts ahead of money-spinning commercial engagements including £1,400-a-head ‘girl’s weekend’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s quasi-royal tour of Australia is underway – although some locals have asked: ‘I don’t know why they’re coming’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in the city early on Tuesday aboard a business class flight from Los Angeles ahead of a four-day commercial trip.
But as they landed in the city, Melburnian Andrew Bridge said the couple’s trip Down Under was clearly about ‘self-promotion’.
The visit – which the couple insist is ‘privately-funded’ – will see Harry and Meghan attend an Invictus Australia event in Sydney before the Princess’s ‘Her Best Life’ retreat at Coogee Beach. Tickets for the weekend cost upwards of £1,400.
The couple’s itinerary will include charity and business events in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.
But there is some disquiet because Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for police security at some events. Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding they cover all the costs themselves.
After arriving in Australia this morning, the couple spoke to children and posed for photographs outside the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne amid surprise from locals.
One parent, Pina Roberts, told the Daily Mail: ‘I just came here and was like, what is going on?’ Anything that acknowledges us (patients and parents at the hospital) is good thing.
‘But I didn’t even know they were coming, so I would wonder why they are actually here.’
Four-year-old patient Lily held up a hand-drawn sign that said: ‘Welcome Harry and Meghan’. She presented a flower to the duchess as they arrived.
Meghan hugged Lily after being presented with the gifts and told her: ‘Oh my gosh, this is so sweet. I love it.’
Harry and Meghan greet crowds during their visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne
Meghan excitedly waved to people who were above them in the hospital atrium
The Duchess knelt as she was handed flowers by a young patient
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s quasi-royal tour of Australia is underway amid bafflement from locals who questioning: ‘Why are they actually here?’
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greet children during their visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne
The couple were greeted by swathes of crowds upon their arrival
After being shown Lily’s sign, Harry said: ‘Nice to meet you, Lily. That’s beautiful. How long did it take?’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took part in a garden therapy session with patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, smelling plants and flowers.
Asked if he would like to take some gumtree home, Harry, wearing a navy jacket, white shirt and metal bracelets, joked: ‘I would, but I think I’d probably get arrested at some point.’
Meghan, wearing a Karen Gee navy sleeveless dress, asked the patients: ‘Do you find that different stories and memories come out that you weren’t expecting?’
The couple visited wards at the hospital and met patients with eating disorders.
Following the Royal Children’s Hospital visit, the Duchess of Sussex visited a women’s refuge in Melbourne.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, meet patient Hamish and family members on the Adolescent Oncology and Rehabilitation ward
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Melbourne early on Tuesday aboard a business class flight from Los Angeles ahead of a four-day commercial trip
The couple met young patients at the event
Large crowds met them in the atrium
Both the Duke and Duchess looked delighted to be there
Harry had some fun with a young boy who appeared equally excited to see the royal
Harry played to the crowd during the Melbourne visit
Meghan donned an apron and served frittata to people at the centre, run by McAuley Community Services for Women, which supports women and children experiencing family violence, homelessness and related challenges.
After serving several people, the duchess asked ‘is anyone else hungry?’, while looking and smiling at the press and other people gathered in the centre.
Meghan then sat down at a table and joined people eating food, telling them: ‘We landed here this morning so my jet lag hasn’t quite hit yet.’
The centre provides round-the-clock crisis accommodation, refuge services and longer-term housing, alongside programmes focused on recovery, wellbeing and independence.
The Duchess of Sussex serves lunch to a resident during a visit to McAuley Community Services for Women
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex takes part a therapy session in the Kelpie garden with adolescent patients on a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum
After an outfit change, the couple spoke to reporters at the veterans event
While greeting crowds at the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Duke of Sussex hugged Christina Parkes, who works as an academic at the University of Melbourne.
Ms Parkes, whose 13-year-old daughter Adelaide is a patient at the hospital, said it ‘means an enormous amount’ to have the couple visit Australia.
Speaking before Harry and Meghan arrived, Ms Parkes told the Press Association: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to see the couple. Harry’s grandmother actually opened the hospital originally, and her portrait and his grandfather’s portrait are in the hallway.’
Asked what she would say to the couple, she said: ‘Welcome to Australia, we hope they enjoy their time here.
‘Thank you for taking the time to visit the hospital and see the work that the doctors and nurses are doing.
‘I cannot overstate how important the work is that they do here at the children’s hospital because my daughter wouldn’t be here without them.’
