Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry visited the same Australian hospital that their late mother Princess Diana once visited more than 40 years ago.
The exiled royal couple arrived in Melbourne early Tuesday morning and began their visit to Australia from the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The two walked in solidarity as they entered the hospital, hand in hand, and refused to distance themselves as they walked through the hallways.
For the outing, Markle looked elegant in a navy Karen Zee dress and Dior pumps. Like his wife, Harry wore a navy blue suit with black shoes and a white button-up.
A large crowd of patients, their families and employees greeted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stopping to chat with those around them and take selfies.
When asked what he was looking forward to during his visit, Prince Harry replied, “Everything!” according to People magazine.
Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO, chair of the Royal Children’s Hospital and a member of the Order of Australia, declared the Sussexes’ visit a success.
“You look around and you see so many people, you see smiles on their faces, you can see what it means to them. Everyone is really happy,” she exclaimed.
“You can’t measure the improvement in morale, but it’s obvious,” she added. “Many of these patients have been here for a long time and visit the hospital frequently. This kind of joy is great for them.”
The visit is quite special as Prince Harry’s parents, Princess Diana and current King Charles, visited the hospital during a 13-day tour in October 1985.
Photos from the visit showed Princess Diana at the bedside of a young patient while Prince Charles stood nearby.
Charles and Diana divorced 11 years later, and Diana died prematurely in 1997 at the age of 36.
Shortly after their stop at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Prince Harry and Markle met with families of veterans at the Australian National Veterans Gallery later in the evening.
The former “Suits” actress also stopped by a homeless women’s support center by herself, donning an apron and serving meals to customers.
The couple, who last visited Australia during the royal tour in 2018, will step down from royal roles two years later and will continue to visit Canberra and Sydney.
Apart from her humanitarian visit, Ms Markle will also be holding a meeting to launch her lifestyle brand, As Ever, as she currently has 12 products trademarked in Australia.
Officials also said they had no plans to meet with government officials.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry is currently facing a defamation lawsuit from his former charity Sentebale following an internal dispute with its chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka.
