Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, touched down in Australia on Tuesday for their first visit to the country since 2018, ahead of four days of “private, business and philanthropic engagements”. The pair landed in Melbourne around 6:30 a.m. local time, following a lengthy 15-hour flight from Los Angeles.
Most passengers didn’t register Meghan and Harry’s presence on the flight until they were escorted off the tarmac by a convoy. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, did not travel with them to Australia.
Meghan and Harry are also expected to visit Canberra and Sydney during their time in Australia, with a particular focus on mental health and youth empowerment. As they are no longer working royals, they will skip any public walkabouts and instead focus on their philanthropic engagements.
© Getty ImagesThe Duchess looked stylish in Australian brand Karen Gee’s Priscilla navy dress with gold buttons on the bodice, and wore her brunette tresses pulled back into a sleek ponytail.
© Getty ImagesHer husband looked dapper in a navy suit with a white collared shirt, and chose to forgo a tie for the occasion.
© Getty ImagesMeghan and Harry chatted with onlookers in the hospital’s main foyer and took photos with them, before leaving to meet other patients in the vicinity.
© Getty ImagesThe Prince took a moment to shake the hand of a young boy, and asked him to “Give us a big smile!” in a sweet moment between the two.
© Getty ImagesA four-year-old patient named Lily held a sign that read: “Welcome Harry and Meghan”, which drew the attention of the royals. “Oh my gosh, this is so sweet. I love it,” the Duchess said, while her husband added: “Nice to meet you, Lily. That’s beautiful. How long did it take?”
© Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth II opened the hospital back in 1963, and returned to Melbourne in 2011 to open the new building.
© Getty ImagesHarry’s parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, also stopped by the hospital in 1985 during their royal tour of Australia.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesIn a statement, the Office of Harry and Meghan said: “Across all engagements, the visit will highlight the duke and duchess’s continued commitment to supporting mental health, strengthening support for the armed forces community, and championing the power of connection and shared experience to drive positive change.”
© Getty ImagesFollowing their hospital visit, Meghan will travel to a women’s homeless shelter to meet survivors of family violence.
© Getty ImagesThe duo will complete day one of their Australian visit with a trip to the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum to meet with veterans and their families.
© Getty ImagesMeghan and Harry’s trip marks their first time in Australia in eight years.
© Getty ImagesJust before their previous trip in 2018, the couple announced they were expecting a baby boy, Prince Archie, much to the delight of royal supporters worldwide.
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