Pregnant Meg’s tears
THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be “pacing themselves” during their 16-day trip down under as they prepare for parenthood.
Meghan, 37, showed off her growing baby bump yesterday as she and Harry, 34, opened the fourth run of his Invictus Games at a ceremony in Sydney.
Giving a speech, the Prince told of his happiness at being able to share “the personal joy” of his wife’s pregnancy with the people of Australia.
The couple revealed on Monday that they are expecting their first child – just a day before kicking off their royal tour, which has 76 engagements.
And Harry gave warm thanks for the welcome they had when they started their 16-day visit, which will also take in New Zealand and the Pacific islands of Fiji and Tonga.
A senior Palace source said yesterday: “Their Royal Highnesses are absolutely relishing the tour and enjoying every moment.
“They have both said how much they are loving their time here and have been overwhelmed by the warmth of the welcome and the people. It’s a long tour and with so many engagements it’s a real undertaking, but they are feeling good and pacing themselves.”
WELCOME
Harry stood in the shadow of the iconic Sydney Opera House as he delivered his speech to officially open the Invictus Games, addressing thousands of competitors, their families and guests.
He said: “Thank you for the welcome you have given Meghan and I over the last few days. I have been so proud to be able to introduce my wife to you and we have been so happy to be able to celebrate the personal joy of our newest addition with you all.”
Harry earlier this week spoke of how he “couldn’t think of anywhere better” to announce to the world that he and Meghan were expecting their first child.
The Duke has a particular affection for Australia, first visiting in 1991 with his late mother, Princess Diana.
He travelled the country again in 2003 during his gap year and three times in 2015 and 2017.
Yesterday, Harry told how it was 45 years to the day that his grandmother, the Queen, opened Sydney Opera House. He said: “On this day in 1973, my grandmother stood in front of this Opera House and declared it open. Forty-five years later, to the day, it is my honour to be standing in front of this iconic symbol of Australia’s place in the modern world at the start of the fourth Invictus Games. I’m sure you will all agree these Games have never had a more beautiful backdrop.”
Harry created the Invictus Games after serving in Afghanistan and feeling more could be done to help injured servicemen and women. The first games were in London in 2014. Before his speech, he and Meghan – thought to be around 14 weeks pregnant – laid a wreath at the city’s Anzac memorial to commemorate the
They have both said how much they are loving their time here
ROYAL SOURCE
ON HARRY & MEG’S TOUR
centenary of the end of the First World War and honour Australia’s heroes in the conflict.
He later told the crowd: “Invictus was inspired by the experiences I had alongside our servicemen and women from many nations.
“These Games were created for our men and women in uniform; designed around their talents and their needs; and built not just for them, but also for the friends and families that have supported their recoveries and had their lives changed for ever.
“Our Invictus family has turned these games into a symbol of strength, honour and optimism for a new generation.
In a few weeks we honour the memory of the generation that fought the First World War – including the sacrifices of the Anzacs whose ethos and heroic actions helped forge the character of this great country.”
Royal observers have noted how Harry has been using this tour to demonstrate his ability to bring communities together and take on a statesmanlike role.
Earlier this year, the Queen made him a youth ambassador for the Commonwealth, a role in which he will help youngsters across the former colonies tackle their challenges. The Duke and Duchess are today six days into their tour. They travel to Hervey Bay before visiting Fraser Island, a World Heritage site that’s the world’s biggest sand island.
Next week, they fly to Fiji and Tonga, then back to Sydney on Saturday for the closing of the games.