Meghan and Harry began their first day in Sydney with a full day of engagements ranging from an official meeting with the Governor General of Australia to a visit to the Taronga Zoo to a stop at the Sydney Opera House.
Shortly after Meghan and Harry landed in Sydney yesterday it was confirmed by the palace that the couple are expecting their first child, Baby Sussex.
The official statement read: ‘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. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.’ Harry and Meghan received good wishes from people all over the world since the delightful news broke.
Shortly after Meghan and Harry landed in Sydney yesterday it was confirmed by the palace that the couple are expecting their first child, Baby Sussex.
The official statement read: ‘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. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.’ Harry and Meghan received good wishes from people all over the world since the delightful news broke.
Meghan and Harry were warmly welcomed by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove alongside representatives from each of the 18 countries participating in the Invictus Games.
Kensington Palace said in a statement: “There is a long history of friendship between The Royal Family and Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and their links with the UK are extensive. The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to experiencing the unique cultures and customs of these four Commonwealth countries and have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Australians, Fijians, Tongans, and New Zealanders as possible. Together they look forward to building an enduring relationship with the people of the region.” Of course, Invictus Sydney is a major focus for the Duke and Duchess, and it seemed only fitting their first engagement of the tour would include representatives from each of the eighteen countries who are participating in the Games.
At the admiral house Meghan and Harry were gifted a a kangaroo – with Meghan saying happily: ‘our first baby gift!’ And Harry coed over a tiny pair of Ugg boots. ‘These are awesome,’ he said.
They also met with representatives from each of the 18 countries who are participating in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018. They all congratulated them on their happy news, ‘Thank you so much,’ said Meghan. ‘We are very excited.’
Admiralty house is the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, the Queen’s official representative in the country of which she is still head of state. The house was built in 1842 and often plays hosts to guests of the government, including The Queen and other heads of state. The house has a historic waterside location opposite the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
From there Meghan and Harry travelled to Taronga Zoo to officially open the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning.
While there, the Sussexes were invited to stroke two koalas and their joeys, who were named Harry and Meghan in honour of the royal wedding in May.
Meghan called the animals ‘so, so sweet’, while touching a koala named Ruby who sat sleepily on a lower branch in the small, open enclosure.
Harry was more forthcoming than Meghan, reaching to pet the koala with the encouragement of keepers, and admiring their healthy coats and quizzing keeper Suzie MacNamara about their diet and sleeping habits.
In a research laboratory at the zoo, they were also introduced to Lynx, a short-legged echidna being studied
Before departing Meghan and Harry met four-year-old Findlay Blue and six-year-old Dasha Gallagher who gifted Meghan and bouquet of flowers
A video from the visit:
Then it was time for a walkabout to greet the huge crowd who showed up to get a glimpse of the couple
Harry was fast to spot fan in the crowd had a gigantic bouquet of flowers for Meghan. Harry walked over to the fan and teased him about the large gift. “You can’t give flowers that big to my wife, what’s that all about?” he said, clearly pretending to be possessive of Meghan. A few seconds later, Meghan came by and said, “Thank you for my flowers.”
It turned out later that the fan was actually Matt de Groot, a radio host in Australia who brought the gigantic bouquet as a joke. He was tasked with doing the stunt for the radio show Fitzy and Wippa. Watch the clip below
“She seemed genuinely excited and flattered by the size of the flowers and her people, who were with her, pointed out that she loved the fact that they were huge,” Matt said
There were also gifts for Baby Sussex of course
Meghan and Harry left the Zoo to travel by vessel across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House.
While inside, they watched a rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre
And then it was time for a walkabout to meet the thousands of people who was waiting for them outside. Let me just say, they spent more than their scheduled 20 minutes meeting and greeting the incredibly excited locals as royal baby fever reached the city!
Hello Sidney! Look at that crowd!
People congratulated Meghan on the happy news with Meghan replying: “It’s an exciting time. I’ve been so happy”.
Two girls holding some drawings they’ve made caught Harry’s attention. ‘He said he loves our pictures,’ the excited sisters said. Seven-year-old Dempsey was determined to tell Meghan they had matching birthdays. Meghan was equally as excited, telling her: ‘Wow, that’s wonderful!’
Evie later told she loves Harry because he is ‘brave and kind… and tall’, while Dempsey says she was excited to meet Meghan.
Prince Harry was also reunited with Daphne, who has been dubbed Harry’s ‘favorite Aussie’ with Harry stopping to have lengthy chats with her during both his 2015 and 2017 trips to Australia.
After spotting her in the crowd he ran over and knelt to her as she sat in her wheelchair before giving her a huge hug.
As they hold hands Harry said: ‘I was looking for you earlier and hoped you’d be here, it’s so good to see you again.’
Harry immediately looked around his shoulder and scanned the crowd for Meghan, keen to introduce her to Daphne. Soon enough, Meghan joined Harry kneeling and hugging her. Meghan said: ‘I’m so glad I got to meet you. Harry has told me all about you and your special bond, it’s so lovely you came to see us, thank you.’ Daphne said: ‘It was lovely to meet the Duchess Meghan. Harry is a wonderful man and I’m so happy he had found happiness, they both deserved the absolute world together.’
You can watch a video from the meeting here:
A sweet photo of Harry talking to a little girl
Meghan and Harry were instantly attracted to Sethunya when they spotted her ‘Girls can do anything’ T-shirt. ‘I was waiting for Harry to come over and he said, ‘Girls can do anything’, because that’s what it says on my shirt,’ Sethunya later said. ‘Then he asked me if I wanted to meet his wife. I said yes and then he asked if he could take a photo of me and his wife.’
For her first engagement of the tour Meghan stunned in the white Blessed Dress by Australian designer Karen Gee
Meghan’s coat was from the Australian designer Martin Grant and from the Resort 2019 Collection.
Meghan added her Stuart Weitzman Legend pumps in Haze Beige to her outfit
On the heels of their major baby news and amid their first major international tour, Harry and Meghan thoughtfully paid tribute to Princess Diana with Meghan choosing to wear jewelry that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, including a pair of gold and diamond butterfly earrings.
That’s not the only piece of Diana’s jewelry the Meghan wore – she also chose a gold bracelet that once belonged to Diana, which perfectly matched the butterfly earrings.
For the afternoon Meghan and Harry will attend a Reception hosted by the Governor-General at Admiralty House.
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