Oh Harry! I’ve dreamt of this moment since I was 8
IT was, strictly speaking, a breach of royal protocol. But Prince Harry could hardly say no yesterday when a young fan asked for a hug.
He was on a walkabout in Melbourne with wife Meghan when he spotted India Brown, 19, brandishing a sign saying: ‘Been here since 4am. Loved you since I was eight.’
As Harry, 34, walked across, the student demanded a hug, saying she knew it was against royal rules. But the prince duly leant over the barricade and hugged her, saying: ‘You are going to get me into trouble!’
India was so overcome that she burst into tears.
She said afterwards: ‘He is someone I have looked up to for many, many years. Everything he stands for is amazing, I’ve loved that family since I was eight and have followed them around the world. It was just such an opportunity that I went for it. I didn’t expect it to happen because it’s actually against protocol. He reciprocated the hug too. It was awesome.’
Thousands turned out to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on day three of their 16- day Commonwealth tour. Meghan, who wore a navy waterfall dress by local designer Dion Lee that revealed the slightest baby bump, received armfuls of flowers, toys, cards and gifts.
She tried her hand at passing an Australian Rules football – a bit like a rugby ball but passed by hitting it with a fist. Later the duchess, 37, who is understood to be using yoga to keep in shape on the tour, changed into a black mididress by Club Monaco and cream trench coat as she and Harry visited Albert Park Primary School to see how it is cutting waste and growing vegetables as part of a sustainability programme.
Meghan was presented with a toy tiara and flowers by one pupil, Annie, six. Harry knelt down and asked her: ‘Lily of the valley – is that right?’ The flower was a favourite of his mother Diana.
The royal couple then took a tram to South Melbourne beach with a group of children, who asked if they had any names for their baby – and were told by Meghan she had ‘a long list’.