Get in line ladies: Prince Harry to meet royal fans at Sydney Harbour

HE’S used to crowds of screaming fans, but probably wasn’t expecting this. A bold Aussie girl has planted a kiss on an unsuspecting Prince Harry.

SO it turns out that Prince Harry received more than one unexpected smooch today.

While we all saw the fifth in line to the British throne receive a kiss from a eager fan outside the Sydney Opera House this morning, the red-headed royal later revealed that he “got more than one”.

Speaking at a press conference at Macquarie University Hosptial this afternoon, His Royal Highness told reporters that he had enjoyed his month-long stay in Australia and was overwhelmed by the greeting he received this morning in Sydney.

“I didn’t expect that many people to come out,” he said. “I actually thought when we were going to turn up there would only be about ten people there.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to them (the regiment). They have made me feel so at home here that its going to be hard to leave. I don’t want to go home, I want to stay here.”

When asked about the now infamous smooch from fan Victoria McRae, the prince jokingly replied: “I got more than one kiss.”

HRH Prince Harry of Wales visits Macquarie University Clinic. Prince Harry visits Lt Ali Spearing, a Royal Engineers Officer who was badly wounded losing both legs above the knees while on deployment in Afghanistan in 2011. Technology Place, Macquarie University Clinic.

The Prince was at the hospital to visit an old friend, Lieutenant Alistair Spearing, a 31-year-old British soldier who lost both his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011.

The soldier is in Sydney receiving groundbreaking treatment from surgeon Professor Munjed Al Muderis.

Prince Harry told reporters he spoke with the surgeon about the possibility of travelling to the UK to carry out his work with other British soldiers.

“What they are doing here is absolutely amazing,” Prince Harry said. “Osteo-integration, is, as far as I can see it, is the way forward for single amputees or double amputees.

“I have been in talks an negotiation with him (Prof Muderis) to get him across to the UK for an extended period of time so we can put as many guys through him as possible.

“It’s life changing, it really is. There is just a better chance of balance and it changes everything about you whether you military or civilian.

“Its really increbile what he has done and the story in the background is pretty incredible as well.”

Prince Harry said while he was looking forward to going home to meet his new niece, he also wanted to stay in Australia saying he had formed a great bond with the Aussie soldiers.

He also joked that he has appreciated the Aussie media keeping everyone “up-to-date” on his eating habits.

That was unexpected. Pic: Media Mode

Prince Harry graciously declined Victoria McRae’s proposal. Pic: Media Mode

Earlier, His Royal Highness was taken by surprise by Miss McRae who had waited for the red-headed royal’s rare public appearance outside the Sydney Opera House armed with a sign saying “Marry me, Prince Harry”.

When he picked her out of the crowd, she made her request to his face.

“He said could he think about it and I said I’d be happy with a kiss,” she told Sky News.

“He let me kiss him on the cheek I went in for it.”

Ms McRae said she was “very happy” after the royal pash.

The kiss was reminiscent of Harry’s father, Prince Charles’ infamous encounter with Australian model Jane Priest on a Perth beach during a royal visit in 1979.

On a 2010 royal tour, Prince William also got a surprise peck on the cheek from a Melbourne schoolgirl.

The Prince welcomed a kiss on the cheek and joked he was continuing an Australian royal tradition.

“My father had such a great time here at school — and is still misty-eyed about an immortal moment on Bondi, when an Australian beauty planted a smacker on his cheek,” Prince William said at the time (getting the name of the beach wrong).

“It’s good to see the tradition is continuing.”

Prince Charles being kissed by a model, Jane Priest on North Cottlesloe beach in 1979.

Prince William cops one on the cheek in Melbourne, 2010. Pic: Scott Barbour

Prince Harry arrived at Sydney Opera House to a crowd of screaming fans just after 12.30pm.

Expected to stay around 20 minutes, he spent well over half an hour greeting crowds and making a few unexpected comments about how much he has enjoyed his stay in Australia.

His Royal Highness was greeted by Premier Mike Baird after completing a military exercise over the Harbour this morning.

Prince Harry and Premier of New South Wales Mike Baird (R) meets schoolchildren at the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Prince Harry also scored a peck from Daphne Dunne. Pic: Dean Lewins.

The Prince was greeted by Premier Mike Baird and a gang of waiting cameras Picture: Mark Metcalfe

Thousands of fans including school groups and slightly more excited female admirers, some armed with signs and marriage proposals, had lined the steps and surrounds of the Opera House, some waiting for the Prince since early this morning.

Earlier Harry appeared in a helicopter over Bondi Beach as part of a military exercise in Sydney this morning causing a wave of adoring fans to look to the skies.

It was billed as a private work trip for Prince Harry but as he prepares to leave Australia after a month-long stint, royal fans are finally getting a chance to farewell their favourite red-headed royal.

Hey Harry, is that you in the front?

Prince Harry hangs out over Bondi.

Thousands were expected to line the steps of the Opera House with some already staking out a spot to see the Prince since the early hours, but the famous Sydney seal got in nice and early, already reserving the best seat in the house.

"HI HARRY!" Sydney Seal stakes out the best spot for Harry's arrival on the steps of the Opera House @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/6mwDE2QuZk

— Chris Urquhart (@chrisurquhart) May 6, 2015

Royal watchers started gathering at Sydney Opera House early this morning. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Later this afternoon His Royal Highness will visit an old mate at Macquarie University Hospital and learn more from the doctors and clinics who saved him.

Lieutenant Alistair Spearing, a 31-year-old British soldier who lost both his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2011 travelled across the world to receive groundbreaking treatment from Sydney surgeon Professor Munjed Al Muderis, who Harry will also meet with this afternoon.

The ginger-haired prince, recently bumped to fifth-in-line to the throne, has enjoyed a warm reception since touching down in Canberra last month, where he was greeted by a young boy who made a placard that shouted: “red heads rule!”.

The Royal Ranga ... Prince Harry got a warm reception when he arrived in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

During the first fortnight of his trip, the 30-year-old bachelor joined wounded Australian soldiers in a game of wheelchair AFL.

He camped out two nights in remote Western Australia, learnt bush survival techniques and met Aboriginal children and elders in the community of Wuggubun.

He also spent time in the Northern Territory serving with NORFORCE, a largely indigenous army unit defending the north of Australia.

More recently Harry was seen purchasing a pork roll with extra chilli at a Vietnamese bakery nearby Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney where he’s spent the past few days.

He’s just like us ... Prince Harry bought a pork roll at Wattle Grove bakery.

Prince Harry will be in Wellington on Saturday, and his New Zealand trip will take him from Stewart Island in the far south to Auckland on the North Island.

His warrior skills will be put to the test when he learns the army’s own haka when visiting Linton Military Camp during the week-long tour.

The prince — who has twice been deployed in Afghanistan — will retire from the British defence force at the end of the trip. He will then travel back to the UK, where he will meet his newborn niece, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.