Pregnant Meghan and Prince Harry debut bump on royal tour in Sydney
As the radiant royals shared their baby joy with Sydney, Harry introduced his wife to an old friend.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won a whole new slew of hearts with a gorgeous reintroduction to an old friend on the steps of the Opera House today.
Harry favourite — 98-year-old war widow Daphne Dunne — had waited patiently all morning in her wheelchair to renew her acquaintance with the prince.
And the new father-to-be was never going to miss her.
After finding her in the crowd — to cheers — as he and wife Meghan Markle performed their royal meet and greet, the Prince made a beeline for Daphne, saying: “very, very nice to see you again. … thank you for coming again.”.
He embraced her and the pair spent long moments chatting as he told her he must introduce her to his bride.
He then motioned to Meghan to come and meet her.
“Oh my goodness, is this Daphne?” Meghan asked.
In 2015, Prince Harry captured the nation’s heart when he reached through the waiting crowd to hug Ms Dunne after he saw her wearing her husband’s war medals. Last year Ms Dunne caught the prince’s eye again as she waited in the pouring rain for him. But perhaps it was today’s encounter that was the most special, when the prince, flanked by his pregnant wife, took the opportunity to spend a moment with his Australian friend.
The Duchess grasped Daphne’s hand, crouched to the ground, and the three enjoyed a warm chat for several minutes.
“Congratulations, I think that’s marvellous,” said Ms Dunne to Meghan, congratulating her on her baby news.
“It’s just what Harry needs.
“I think it’s wonderful, the two of you.”
At one point Ms Dunne put her hand to Harry’s face, and Meghan leaned in to kiss her.
“I’ve seen your shoes, they’re very cool,” said Harry. “Have you dyed your hair a shade of pink?”
Ms Dunne kissed both the Duke and Duchess and gave them cards and flowers as gifts.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you. All good things,” said Meghan.
“Enjoy the rest of the day. Hopefully next time we see you we’ll have a little one with us.”
.@FionaWingett on royal presents: #MeghanMarkle did say the koala they gave her at Taronga Zoo would be put in the nursery.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 16, 2018
The couple announced their pregnancy news last night, with the baby to arrive in autumn next year.
MORE: https://t.co/GA0jDYJ7KJ #RoyalTour pic.twitter.com/I885LXXHpg
I wished them well with the baby on the way and said this is what Harry has been waiting for for so long,” Ms Munne told AAP.
“I got a cuddle too.”
Behold the bump
The day began and ended at Admiralty House for the loved up royals, their happiness in the wake of the news they are expecting their first child apparent for all to see.
The beaming couple unveiled their baby bump at Admiralty House this morning as the world’s got its first glimpse of the couple since their pregnancy announcement.
This afternoon, after wowing crowds at the Opera House, Prince Harry sealed the couple’s by applauding beer being served alongside tea at an afternoon reception at Admiralty House.
“G’Day,” Harry began as he kicked doff his first official speech of the tour.
“We’re both absolutely delighted to be here and really impressed to see you serving beer and tea at an afternoon reception in true Aussie style.”
“Genuinely thank you for the incredibly warm welcome and the chance to meet so many Aussies from all walks of life and we also genuinely couldn’t think a better place to announce the upcoming baby.”
This morning, Meghan wore a form-fitting white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee as Harry clasped her hand while they greeted guests and officials and representatives of the 18 countries competing in the Invictus Games in Sydney, which kick off on Saturday and run for a week.
But the big interest was in the news of the baby and Meghan’s barely-there bump.
GG Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove presented the couple with Akubra hats, a toy kangaroo — complete with joey in the pouch — and a pair of baby Ugg boots.
Prince Harry appeared delighted with the tiny boots.
The pregnancy took many by surprise — the GG and Lady Cosgrove had hurriedly dispatched a staff member to hastily purchase the toy kangaroo with joey for their pregnant guest.
The event was to focus on the upcoming Invictus Games, an event started by Prince Harry to help war veterans.
When the pair landed in Sydney on Monday morning Meghan had sparked baby bump speculation as she clasped folders over her torso while walking through the airport.
Hours later, Kensington Palace tweeted: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the spring of 2019.”
High security, high spirits
Snipers were stationed atop the sails of the Opera House as part of a massive security operation as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their baby joy with Sydney and the world.
Police conducted regular sweeps of Sydney Harbour, as thousands of royal watchers flocked to the couple, who weathered a windy morning on the rough waters of Sydney Harbour, making their way by boat to meet locals.
The royal couple boarded the Admiral Hudson about 11.25am and made the rough 15 minute journey from Taronga Zoo to the Opera House, where they watched a rehearsal from the Bangarra Dance Theatre before meeting throngs of royal fans.
The duchess covered up for the harbour trip, adding a trench coat to the white Karen Gee dress she began the day in, hiding any sign of her barely-there bump.
She blocked out the glare of the water with sunglasses and she stood with Prince Harry on the top level of the vessel.
The Duke and Duchess were helped off the by minders and swiftly ushered up a path and into the Opera House through a stage door.
They held hands and smiled to crowd, with Meghan pushing her hair out of her face.
Bob Tyrrell and his wife Carmel travelled from Dee Why, north of Sydney, to see the royals.
“They announced their pregnancy here,” Carmel said. “Isn’t that amazing?”
As a boy, Bob watched Queen Elizabeth II pass by his home in Hurstville in her train, through Sydney’s west.
That was in the 1950s. “I thought it’d be good to see a royal again,” the 75-year-old said. “We’re monarchists, if you can’t tell.”
They suggested Ozzie or Barry as new baby names.
Cindy Hague and Sue Riddle are from the UK, visiting Australia on holidays for their third time here.
“We booked last Christmas and heard in May they were coming,” Cindy said. “We love the royals. Not Prince Charles though. Get him out of there.”
Grace and Willow, six-year-old twins, drove with their mum Linda from the Southern Highlands to be at the Opera House by 8.30 this morning.
They gave Duchess Meghan roses and poppies and paintings they had created. “She asked their names and about them,” Linda said.
“We got to say thank you and welcome to Australia, Grace said. “She’s really beautiful.”
“And really gentle,” Willow added.
“It’s not a drop bear, is it?”
The couple then headed to Taronga Zoo to open the new Institute of Science and Learning, and meet two joey koalas named in their honour.
The ten month old joeys were wedding gifts for the couple from the people of NSW and were unfazed by their royal visitors as their mothers, Wattle and Ruby munched on eucalyptus leaves.
Meghan cooed at the koalas before asking could she stroke one, saying: “Sweet, cute”.
Prince Harry — who has previously met koalas — was a tad more irreverent.
“It’s not a drop bear, is it?” the Prince joked as he was shown into the enclosure by Taronga Zoo CEO Cameron Kerr.
“No, they’re just a rumour for backpackers,” Mr Kerr replied, referring to the urban myth of dangerous, fang-toothed koalas that drop from trees with which Aussies often tease visitors.
Shown an echidna by wildlife nutritionist Michelle Shaw, the Prince asked if it had a snotty nose for some reason. “It’s the excitement,” Ms Shaw replied. “He’s a breeding male, he’s kind of a stud, he’s had two babies,” she added.
The pair then moved on to open the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning aims to address the 1800 plant and animal species at risk of extinction in Australia.
In front of hundreds of Taronga staff, donors, young volunteers and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Meghan Markle used golden scissors to cut a line of green tape to open the centre. Prince Harry then unveiled a plaque commemorating their visit.
“Absolutely amazing,” he said. “Zoos in the 21st century have to modernise with everything else that’s going on. Taronga Zoo seems to be leading the way.”
The royal couple shook hands and spoke with several zoo donors and members of the public. Dianne Denton, who teaches children with special needs, asked Prince Harry to say hello to one of her autistic students, Zoe. “Am I going to answer a question I will regret later?” he said, before waving at her phone. “Hi Zoe,” he said.
The couple then went towards the Man O’War Steps in Circular Quay.
Afternoon tea, and beers
The first day of the royal couple’s Australian tour concluded with a reception hosted by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lady Cosgrove at Admiralty House.
Here the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had changed into a stunning green Brandon Maxwell dress with gold button detail and a full pleated skirt, were able to engage with Australians from a broad range of sectors including charity and community, business and industry, arts and culture, sport and entertainment. Invitees included comedian and author Anh Do, indigenous model Samantha Harris, former AFL player, indigenous advocate and 2010 Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, Dr Richard Harris, the diver who helped saved Thai football team from their cave ordeal, Olympic hurdler Sally Pearson, Olympic silver medallist Jessica Fox, maths teacher and 2018 Australian Local Hero Eddie Woo, rugby player David Pocock and singer Missy Higgins cradling her two-month-old daughter Luna.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove warmly welcomed the royal couple to tumultuous applause.
He said Prince Harry was “almost a son of Australia” and with this visit with his wife, that connection and bond would become “even stronger”. He said Australia will now “adopt” Harry’s wife Meghan too.
Prince Harry delivered a short, warm and confident speech.
“G’day, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is great to be back in Australia. And especially even more so this is my wife’s first visit here, so I’m very excited to show her this incredible country of yours, perhaps not Kangaroo Flats military training area in Darwin though!
“You’ll also notice we had a roof on our boat earlier after last year’s downpour! Luckily Sydney’s sun is shining today so thank you for organising the weather.
“We started off well today with some sleeping koalas, Sydney Harbour, the Bangara Dancers, who were absolutely fantastic, the Opera House and Admiralty House, and we’re looking forward to going to Dubbo tomorrow to meet those farmers and their families who have been hit by this drought. “I am particularly grateful to the Australian government for hosting the Invictus Games which the whole country has embraced with great enthusiasm. “Thank you so much for all of the support. Australia is of course home to some of the world’s best sporting talent but what you are about to see during these Invictus Games will quite literally astound you.
“A demonstration of the power of the human spirit, the power of sport to change lives, and the power of feeling part of all of this from the stands - there really is something for everyone.
“Thank you to Your Excellency and Lady Cosgrove for giving us your magnificent home for the week — we’re inviting all of our mates in Sydney to visit! “Finally we’re both delighted to be here and really impressed to see you serving beer and tea at an afternoon reception, in true Aussie style! “Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome and the chance to meet so many Aussies from all walks of life. And we also genuinely couldn’t think of a better place to announce the upcoming baby, whether it’s a boy or a girl, so thank you very, very much.”
In a jam-packed schedule of 76 engagements across 16 days, the royal duo will visit Sydney, Dubbo, Melbourne and Queensland’s Fraser Island as well as Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
— with AAP
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