Luke Vincent, 5, stole the show in Dubbo by giving Prince Harry a hug

THE little boy who stole the show from Harry and Meghan continued to melt hearts today, and brought Georgie Gardner to tears.

THE little boy who stole the show from the royals in Dubbo yesterday is continuing to make hearts melt around the country.

Luke Vincent, 5, appeared on the Today show this morning as his school principal Anne Van Dartel again discussed the gorgeous moment Luke met Prince Harry and stroked his beard.

It was a moment that everyone was talking about yesterday, and brought Today host Georgie Gardner to tears live on air.

“I think I’m going to cry,” Gardner said on Thursday morning. “He is a beautiful soul.”

Luke, a Buninyong Public School student, stole the spotlight from Harry and wife Meghan Markle yesterday with a single hug.

Somehow Luke got past security and cameras caught the sweet moment Harry bent down to give him a big hug.

That’s the sound of hearts melting everywhere. Picture: Matrix Media Group

Meghan certainly wasn’t left out. Picture: Phil Noble/Getty Images

After the embrace, Luke reached out and grabbed Harry’s beard at the chin, clearly fascinated by his facial hair.

Harry was in no rush to leave as the boy kept touching his face, displaying the patience and kindness he shows to all his fans.

Following Harry’s hug, Luke, who has Down syndrome, then handed Meghan a bunch of flowers and was thanked and embraced by the Duchess of Sussex.

Ms Van Dartel told Gardner and co-host Karl Stefanovic that the school was “the best in Dubbo” and that all the students were “exceptional people”.

Luke being adorable again on the Today show this morning.

Georgie and Karl were in awe of Luke.

“The staff, they are so excited about this,” she told the Today show. “I think this really pats him on the back for all the hard work they do. I enjoy coming to work every day it’s the best.

“It’s such a special thing for our students and the community to know that people care, and I think it’s that out reach and the caring environment that we all live in.

“I think my friend Luke embodies that whole notion of acceptance and kindness and innocent and beauty.”

Luke made sure he grabbed that beard and gave Harry’s head a rub too.

Luke’s moment went global, with social media users taking to Twitter to show their admiration for him and the royals.

“Well isn’t Luke Vincent just hurting ovaries all over the world right now with a Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hugs and beard stroking,” one person wrote.

“And today’s winner of the worlds heart goes to #LukeVincent,” another added.

This was the sweetest moment. Luke Vincent you’re a lucky boy and to the Duke and Duchess, thank you for breaking protocol and displaying your true nature. #AustralianRoyalTour #LukeVincent Couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

— Julleen Elson (@Juicy_Julleen) October 17, 2018

Ms Van Dartel explained in an interview with 7 News that Luke loved beards, which was why he was drawn to Prince Harry’s face.

“Luke’s favourite person is Santa Claus … and now it’s Prince Harry,” she said. “Luke waited beautifully today and waited for Prince Harry and Princess Meghan to come to us. And he even brought her flowers.”

Ms Van Dartel said when Luke first reached out to Harry she got nervous because they had been told “no touching”.

“I was very concerned when he started rubbing Prince Harry’s face and his hair, but Prince Harry was completely gracious and was so polite and realised what was happening and his infatuation with his beard,” she said.

“We can only thank him so much for treating Luke with such respect who didn’t understand the situation. The way that Prince Harry and Princess Meghan interacted with him was just delightful.”

Luke gave the Duchess Of Sussex a big hug as well as a bunch of flowers. Picture: Matrix.

Ms Van Dartel, who went to the airport along with some of the students from her school, said there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the vision aired.

“He’s often the star of the show at school, and now he’s the star of the show all around the world,” she said.