Prince Harry and Meghan were warmly greeted by fans during an impromptu meet-and-greet on the final day of their Australia tour, which ended with a couple’s outing to watch the rugby in Sydney.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke with fans who’d gathered outside the Sydney Opera House for a glimpse of the couple ahead of their boat tour on the harbour with team Invictus Australia.
They then headed to Coogee where Meghan headlined the Her Best Life retreat, run by Jackie O’s own bestie, podcast host Gemma O’Neill, before the couple watched the rugby.
Watch the video above.
Meghan spoke at the “girls’ weekend” retreat, held at the five-star InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel, on the final day of her trip to Australia with the Duke of Sussex.
Tickets to the exclusive, “no phones allowed”, 300-person event started at $2699, with VIP packages costing $3199.
The retreat also included a “women’s coaching session with renowned therapist Dr Justine Corry, yoga, sound healing, time by the pool, lunch, beautiful dinners and a dance-floor-filled disco night”.
After her In Conversation with O’Neill on stage, followed by an appearance at the gala dinner, Meghan and Harry headed to Allianz Stadium.
There, they joined thousands of fellow rugby fans to watch the NSW Waratahs take on Moana Pasifika.
The couple were seen waving to people in the crowd, Harry even giving the thumbs up at one point, as they sat cuddled up together.
Surprise ‘walkabout’ outside Sydney Opera House
The ‘walkabout’ – a hallmark of royal tours – was a happy surprise.
Natalie Oliveri, nine.com.au’s Royal Reporter, who was reporting from the Opera House, said the couple’s team had previously said such a public event would not be part of their visit.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were hard to spot, initially, as the hordes of security, photographers, journalists and aides surrounded the couple as they met crowds,” Oliveri said.
“Everyone wanted to be as close to Harry and Meghan as possible, and at one point the Duke used his hand to hold back one photographer who got too close.
“But Meghan, ever aware of the cameras on her, smiled and performed her duties to perfection.”
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“The media scrum surrounding Harry and Meghan mirrored scenes from their 2018 tour, which also had a pinnacle moment at the Sydney Opera House,” Oliveri continued.
“But this time, as non working royals, interest in the couple reached unprecedented levels.
“For those wondering if Australians care about Harry and Meghan, the answer is an overwhelming yes.
“The Sussex charm has not worn off Down Under. King Charles and his family really might be missing that Harry and Meghan magic.”
During the meet-and-greet, Harry was warmly embraced by Michelle Haywood, who held a photo of her late mother Daphne Dunne with the prince during a previous visit to Australia.
Dunne, a former servicewoman and war widow, had famously described herself as “Harry’s biggest fan” and encountered the duke three times in Australia.
During the 2018 royal tour, he memorably rushed over to see her as the couple greeted crowds at the Opera House.
Haywood told the Sydney Morning Herald she hoped to thank Harry for these moments.
Prince Harry and Meghan gifted pairs of thongs
“I wanted to come down today because it’s my first opportunity to see him again and to hopefully be able to thank him for the joy he’s brought to Mum over all those years,” she said.
Meanwhile, Invictus Australia veteran Joel Vanderzwan presented the couple with the ultimate Aussie souvenir: personalised thongs.
Harry’s read G’DAY HAZZA while Meghan’s said G’DAY MEGS.
“G’Day Megs, I love it!” the former Suits star laughed as she turned to show photographers the shoes.
The duke took a moment to dance with Joel’s daughter Charlotte Vanderzwan, twirling her around, and met his twin sons Harrison and William.
Speaking to 9News on the ground, the duke said he was enjoying the weather in Sydney and mentioned there had been “torrential rain” during his last visit.
Following the walkabout, the couple set sail on Sydney Harbour with team Invictus Australia in support of its bid to bring the Invictus Games back in 2031.
The event was held in Sydney in 2018 during Prince Harry and Meghan’s first visit here.
After their time on the water, the Sussexes again greeted members of the public (and lots of dogs) at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.
Bondi visit
Earlier in the morning, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with survivors of the Bondi Beach terror attack as they visited the iconic beachside suburb.
At the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, Harry and Meghan spoke with members of the public, as well as survivors and first responders who were on the scene during the December 14 tragedy in which 15 people were killed.
The couple met Jessica Chapnik Khan, who shielded her daughter from the shooting, and Elon Zizer, who was shot several times while also shielding his children.
Zizer told the Sydney Morning Herald it was “an honour” to meet Harry and Meghan.
“It’s very beautiful that they’ve come and made an effort to meet us,” he says. “It’s very special – it makes us feel heard,” he said.
The Sussexes also chatted and posed for photos with volunteer first responders of the life saving club.
Harry and Meghan were also introduced Shannon Biederman, senior curator of the Sydney Jewish Museum, which is opening an exhibition on the tragedy.
Sticking to her approach of championing local fashion brands, Meghan wore a striped shirt by Aussie label Matteau and Rolla’s jeans.
A jam-packed final day
Ahead of the couple’s public appearances, Meghan was spotted taking a stroll through Bronte – a classic Sydneysider activity.
A video showed the duchess dressed in activewear and flanked by security as she glanced at the landscape of the beloved Sydney beach, before getting into a blacked-out vehicle.
The Sussexes’ jam-packed final day in Sydney marks the end of their four-day whirlwind tour around the country.
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