Royal fever takes over Sydney as Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan charm public
SYDNEY was gripped by royal fever yesterday as the Duchess of Sussex, along with husband Prince Harry and a hint of a baby bump, delighted thousands of wellwishers. And royal mania is expected to continue today as the couple head to Dubbo.
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THOUSANDS of adoring fans gathered for their chance to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex yesterday — with some rewarded with a chat and even a cuddle.
Meghan told The Daily Telegraph: “I’m doing really well, thank you”, when asked about her newly announced pregnancy and Harry revealed his joy at his impending fatherhood, telling wellwishers he longed to become a “daddy” and read bedtime stories.
Amid a massive security operation, crowds started gathering as early as 6am at Sydney Opera House to snag a prime spot to see the star attraction.
War widow Daphne Dunne, 98, whom Harry calls his “favourite Australian”, was in a coveted spot as she met the prince for the third time.
And on this occasion Daphne had her eye on Harry’s stunning wife, promptly asking if he could introduce her to him.
“Oh my goodness, is this Daphne?” Meghan asked, before bending down and clasping hands with the elderly lady.
Daphne, whose husband Albert received the VC posthumously for his bravery in the WWII New Guinea campaign, revealed: “They said they were very excited to start a family of their own and he said: ‘I can’t wait to be a daddy.’ I got a hug and a kiss from both of them, but this time it was different, he’s married, I’ve lost my chance!
“Harry’s such a lovely gentleman, he said he liked the colour of my hair this year. He recognised me straight away, and Meghan said she had heard all about me.”
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But perhaps the luckiest fan in the crowd was young Sethunya Gibbons, who had waited for four hours to see the royals. She promptly stole Meghan’s heart and even got Harry to act as official photographer.
The Duchess told the nine-year-old she looked exactly like she did when she was a child.
“Harry said ‘Girls can do anything’, because that’s what it says on my shirt,” Sethunya said.
“Then he asked me if I wanted to meet his wife. I loved it when he took my phone and took a photo of me and Meghan together!”
Rhondda Tissington, 56, handed Harry a sheep-shaped blanket and a book.
“He said he’d keep it for when his baby is born and was excited to read it bedtime stories,” she said.
There was excitement throughout the throng and Meghan Flood, 19, said she was shaking after meeting the couple, while school pupils Emerson Yee and Lulu Hogan, both 15, from Newtown, took their first ever sick day off school to see the royals.
“They were so sweet and so nice. They’re so gorgeous, both of them. Harry’s eyes are so blue! I’m over the moon,” Lulu said.
Earlier at Taronga Zoo, St Leonards mum Alicia Slee took her 21-month-old daughter Mila to see the Duchess.
“I feel so happy for them. It’s the first start for her tour and it’s perfect to kick it off. She dresses beautifully, she’s just immaculate. She seems real and she’s making the royal family more relatable.”
During an impromptu walkabout at the zoo Harry spotted Meghan being handed an enormous bunch of flowers.
Pointing, he strode over and cheekily said: “You can’t give flowers that big to my wife, what is that all about?”
He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand as they roared with laughter.
“Thank you!” Meghan said.