Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take Parramatta by storm during royal visit to western Sydney
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have delighted onlookers during a visit to Macarthur Girls’ High School.
Parramatta
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PARRA matters to the royals. After waiting patiently for two hours, students, mothers, grandmothers, workers taking sickies and media converged outside Macarthur Girls’ High School and released a right royal cheer as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex whisked up Stewart St.
But it was nothing compared to the delirious shouts that erupted once the pair entered the school, where they visited for the In League in Harmony Youth Advocate program.
The pair visited the school after a trip to Bondi Beach and caught a glimpse of the melting pot of cultures in Australia, away from the textbook visits to the Opera House and surf hotspots.
Lisa Bates and her husband Tim Hills stepped out of their Stewart St apartment to witness a slice of history in their neighbourhood.
Dr Bates, who is an obstetrician, is pregnant and due on November 13.
She said if she met Meghan she would wish her well.
“Good luck because I’m also an obstetrician as well and enjoy pregnancy because it’s crap! No, I won’t say that.
“I love them. I’m a big fan. I think it’s the fairytale; that little bit of magic we all need in our lives.”
Her husband even joked they could name their first child, a boy after Harry.
They also love the brush with royalty happened in their street.
“I think it’s fantastic,’’ Dr Bates said.
“We only found out this morning; it gives such a morale boost to the area.”
The British family is familiar with Parramatta.
The Queen opened Parramatta Stadium in 1986 and Prince Charles visited Parramatta Park in 1994.
Macarthur Girls’ High School security guard and groundskeeper Frank Wilson hopes his diligence maintaining the school yard pays off.
“I thought it’s a bit of recognition for my handiwork.’’
He was informed about the visit two weeks ago but kept the news a secret from the students.
“I was saying ‘You should watch the news because on the 19th something special’s happening. And I said ‘I can’t tell you why’.”
Meanwhile, Parramatta neighbours Sally Carroll and Lorraine Beilken dropped everything they were doing and raced from Gore St to see the couple as soon as they heard of their impending arrival.
“Privileged in a way,” Ms Beilken said of their visit to Parramatta.
“I mean it’s Parramatta. My dad was English and my mum was Irish so I’m very much into the royal family so I wanted to see them.”
Mrs Carroll added that it was “another feather in our cap” for Parramatta.
“I was cleaning my house and had to drop everything to come down,” she said.
“Diana and Charles are just a generation above me and Will and Harry come across as beautiful people.’’
Camaraderie swept through the throng of royal watchers.
Dundas woman Sandra Dunn struck up a friendship with Vi Lloyd, of Parramatta, while waiting for the Duke and Duchess.
Dublin-born Mrs Lloyd lives opposite the school and is a proud royalist who couldn’t wait to share news of the visit with her friends at Parramatta RSL Club this afternoon.
“I was stationed when Charles was up at school in Scotland so I’ve been following the royal family for a long time,’’ she said.
Mrs Dunn’s two adult daughters graduated from the school and praised the Duke and Duches’ work promoting mental health.
“They’re doing such a meaningful thing for mental health,’’ she said.
She was also impressed Macarthur Girls’ High School was selected.
“It’s relevant it’s a girls’ school,’’ a reference to the Duchess’ work empowering women, including a United Nations address, before she married into the royal family.