Right royal frenzy greets Harry in Oz
Crowds thronged the Sydney Opera House and the shores of the city’s sparkling harbour yesterday to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, on their first public appearance in Australia since the announcement they were expecting a child.
The royal couple began their official tour of Australia with a ferry ride across the harbour to greet cheering crowds packed in front of the Opera House, opened by Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, 45 years ago.
“We’re both absolutely delighted to be here. We genuinely couldn’t think of a better place to announce the upcoming baby, be it a boy or a girl,” Harry said.
Kensington Palace said on Monday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were expecting their first baby in the northern spring. The child will be seventh in line to the British throne and the queen’s eighth great-grandchild.
Thousands of people gathered at the Opera House, where the couple shook hands and embraced members of the public.
“I want to see the royal couple. They are young, a breath of fresh air and Australians love them,” said Marvin Lester, who has attended every royal visit to Australia since 1954. “There’s a lot of feeling for a republic here but I admire having a royal family.”
Australia, a constitutional monarchy whose head of state is the British monarch, voted in 1999 against becoming a republic.
Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, the queen’s representative in Australia, presented the couple with baby gifts: a stuffed kangaroo and a tiny pair of fleece-lined Ugg boots. – Reuters