Royal Tour, Day 7: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Fraser Island
ROYAL watchers got more than they were expecting from Meghan Markle, with memories of her superstar mum-in-law flooding back.
ROYAL watchers hoping to catch a glimpse of the royals on Fraser Island got to see more than they expected when the Duchess of Sussex emerged from her rest in a daring dress.
Wearing a linen maxi dress — believed to be by LA brand Reformation — with a thigh-high split, Meghan had to hold on to secure her skirt at times as the wind whipped it slightly open.
Clutching her baby bump and the fabric of the somewhat sheer skirt, Meghan made her way down the jetty with Prince Harry who has been doing the official duties on the Queensland island today without his wife so she could rest in the villa where they will stay tonight.
The quick people walk still pleased excited locals who had been waiting at Fraser Island all day to catch a glimpse of the Duchess, with initial news they would not see her at all.
The gruelling schedule of the couple’s first official tour has taken its toll on Meghan, with Kensington Palace yesterday saying she would not be taking part in today’s activities.
After the couple touched down on the island about midday they parted ways before reuniting about 4pm.
Meghan changed from the polka-dot dress she was wearing when the couple arrived at the island, but kept on the same sandals she wore when she arrived earlier today.
The couple have met locals lined up along the getty, collecting teddy bears and handmade quilts for the baby.
The pair have been in no rush when meeting the public on this tour, taking the time to have long and meaningful conversations.
Ella Quinn, 12, and her sister Jada waited all day on the Jetty, hoping to meet the couple.
Armed with signs, the got Meghan’s attention.
“We told her about the party we threw on the night of her and Harry’s wedding and she thought it was nice,” she said.
Marcus Tossman, 16, got a few special minutes with the princess - winning her over with a sign that read: “Meghan Markle you make my world sparkle.”
He was so excited he can’t even remember what she said to him.
“She was just really thankful,” he said.
Locals have commented how much of a “nice guy” Harry was today, “having a a yarn and a laugh” with them.
The couple’s activities for this evening have not been revealed, with media soon to be escorted from the island so the couple can enjoy their privacy.
The pair are expected to spend the afternoon unwinding at Kingfisher Bay Resort - where they will spend the night - before flying to Fiji and Tonga tomorrow to confine their Pacific tour.
COMMENT THAT MADE HARRY BLUSH
It was one of the most intimate moments on Prince Harry’s mammoth Australian tour, so when a cheeky comment broke the silence in the middle of the secluded paradise, it caught the Duke of Sussex off guard and left him blushing.
“Awww, here we go! He’s better looking in person!” called a voice from the crowd as Harry positioned himself to address the traditional owners in the forest at Fraser Island.
“I’ll second that!” another voice yelled.
The Prince was momentarily lost for words as he blushed and laughed to cheers from the gathered attendees.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he eventually said before making his official speech and unveiling a plaque dedicating the forest to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.
The cheeky comment came from Butchulla elder Mally Clarke, 72, who stole the show at the intimate ceremony attended by traditional land owners.
“I don’t know what’s gonna come out of my mouth,” Miss Clarke told news.com.au after the ceremony.
“When he came out I just thought, ‘Oooh, he’s even better in the flesh. He better tell his wife about me’.”
Meghan scaled back her scheduled commitments on the island today, leaving Prince Harry to make the 30-minute trek over rough terrain into Pile Valley to be welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony.
It’s the second time the plaque has been unveiled. His father, Prince Charles, first presented it in Bundaberg earlier this year after the announcement more than 200,000 acres of the island would be protected by the initiative.
“Luckily we are both highly skilled at unveiling plaques. It runs in the family,” he joked.
Harry again implored people to care for the environment, saying without trees and forests we wouldn’t survive and many people did not realise that.
“It is up to us now to protect this paradise together,” he said.
“We need to protect it — not just because it’s beautiful. But because It’s an essential part of our existence...and will continue to be for our children and their children.”
Taking place in a clearing surrounded by towering satinay trees and ancient ferns, it was one of the most relaxed and intimate affairs on the mammoth Pacific tour.
The Prince — dressed in an untucked blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, beige pants and brown suede shoes — quietly glanced down at his notes, reviewing his speech as he was introduced by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
In a more private moment just minutes earlier, he was welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony in the forest.
“Young Butchulla men spoke to him about the significance of the country,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, who attended the private smoking ceremony with minister Kate Jones and the premier, told news.com.au.
“And he chatted with us about this being an amazing place.”
Children presented the Duke with native flowers and performed a traditional song and dance.
Afterwards, he knelt down to meet them all and share a joke.
HARRY HAS A SPLASH
If he needed a refresh, he’s certainly got it now.
Prince Harry has splashed his face with the anti-ageing water of Lake McKenzie at Fraser Island and even appeared to taste it.
Speaking with Aboriginal people who own the land, the Duke of Sussex was shown the beauty of the iconic lake, one of the most picturesque spots of the tourist location in Queensland.
It is a perched lake, which means it contains only rainwater, no groundwater and is not fed by streams and or flow to the ocean.
The water is said to have anti-ageing properties, which should rejuvenate Harry after a whirlwind week that has left his wife Meghan Markle in need of rest today.
COUPLE SPLIT ISLAND TRIP
Meghan Markle has made a low-key entrance to Fraser Island ahead of her day of mostly rest and recuperation without her husband.
With the couple arriving separately, the Duchess of Sussex stepped off a flashier whale-watching boat while her husband arrived on a bus on the island’s barge from Hervey Bay in Queensland.
Meghan was whisked down the timber jetty in a four-wheel drive with fans struggling to get a glimpse of her through the car’s tinted windows, while Harry has headed off with his entourage for his official duties.
MEGHAN’S SURPRISE ISLAND GESTURE
If you were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duchess of Sussex in Queensland today, you may be in luck after all.
Kensington Palace said Meghan Markle would not be participating in scheduled events when she and Prince Harry touched down on Fraser Island today — but those going to meet the Duchess may still get to see her.
A spokesperson confirmed to news.com.au they were “working towards” an appearance on the island today — most likely at Kingfisher Bay Jetty for the scheduled meet-and-greet with the public later this afternoon.
There’s plenty of excitement around the #VisitFraserCoast today with the arrival of Harry and Meghan on their #RoyalVisitAustralia 🙌ðŸ¼ðŸ’• pic.twitter.com/nM3P9k1j5A
— Visit Fraser Coast (@FraserCoastQLD) October 22, 2018
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrived at Hervey Bay Airport just before 11.30am.
Harry was filmed waving to a crowd of excited fans as he boarded the barge that will travel to Fraser Island.
The couple is making their way separately to the island, with Meghan on a fancier boat and Harry on the barge.
Agh, I'm torn. I want to see her on the walkabout, but I also want her to get her rest. #RoyalVisitAustralia
— Meghan, Queen of Duchessing (@megofsussex) October 22, 2018
A spokesperson has also confirmed Meghan would spend the day getting some rest at Kingfisher Bay Resort — where the couple will spend the night — while her husband follows through with the scheduled commitments.
Kensington Palace said yesterday the Duchess would not be participating in the scheduled events.
That news came after she took a step back from some duties yesterday, with her husband overheard telling fans she was “resting”.
“Being pregnant takes its toll,” he said.
Police boats are stationed in the water surrounding Sunset Jetty and locals have gathered to catch a glimpse of the royals as their boats arrive.
It’s about a 30-minute trip from Kingfisher Bay Resort to Pile Valley, where the Duke will kick off today’s events with an official smoking ceremony from traditional owners of the land. The location can only be accessed by 4WD, with the narrow track there a rough and rocky ride over bumpy sand through the forest.
While the Prince has spent most of his time in Australia speeding around Sydney in a motorcade of slick vehicles, today’s transport will be a little different.
If morning sickness isn’t a problem for mum-to-be Meghan, motion sickness would’ve been, should she have followed through with today’s events.
Blue skies and light clouds are covering the island. It’s only 23C but the humidity makes the environment seem hotter than it is.
Fraser Island isn’t the kind of luxurious paradise you might find further north in the Whitsundays.
The largest soft sand island in the world, it has 206,000 acres of protected rainforest.
Mosquitos and sandflies are also out in force on the island and are visibly buzzing in the air as soon as you get off the barge.
Locals and tourists — some holding small Australian flags — were lining up at River Heads Wharf early this morning waiting to make the trip over to the island to see the couple.
Barges and ferries for today’s royal visit were almost at capacity.
Hotel owners told news.com.au they had experienced a surge in bookings for the weekend.
ROYALS EN ROUTE TO FRASER ISLAND RESORT
The royal couple were spotted boarding a plane out of Sydney about 10.30am.
The Duchess of Sussex rocked a summery look, with a sleeveless maroon-and-white polka dot dress and her hair tied into a ponytail.
The Prince wore a dark grey button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves and beige chinos.
HARRY AND MEGHAN HEAD TO LUXURY RESORT
Harry and Meghan were spotted leaving Admiralty House in Sydney just after 9.30am.
The Duchess gave a little wave to the cameras as she and her husband were driven out of Kirribilli.
Harry is expected to take part in a traditional welcome ceremony with the local people and visit an iconic lake in Fraser Island later this afternoon.
Harry and Meghan will arrive at the Kingfisher Bay Resort later this afternoon.
The eco-resort has quiet beaches, secluded villas and a fancy health spa, which will be perfect for the pregnant Duchess, who has been left worn out following a straight week of back-to-back engagements.
Prince Charles stayed at the resort during a visit to Australia in 1994. David Hay, the resort's general manager, suggested he may have influenced Meghan and Harry into staying there.
“We know Prince Charles is very much into sustainability and nature, so he absolutely loved Kingfisher Bay Resort,” he told The Today Show this morning.
“We’d like to think he might have had a word with Harry before he came out, and suggested he come and stay with us.”
The tour down under has had many sentimental links for the Prince. Saturday night’s official Invictus Games opening ceremony marked 45 years to the day that his grandmother the Queen opened the iconic Sydney Harbour landmark. And today’s island stay is a nod to the visit his father Prince Charles completed in 1994 at the end of his official Australian tour.
Wet weather has followed the Duke and Duchess down under, and it could find them again in Queensland. While early forecasts predicted a sunny day, showers rolled over the bay last night with flashes of lightning. Clouds have hung around this morning with skies expected to stay overcast.
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