The BEST photos from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first day in Sydney!

All the best moments!

October 16 2018

What were the best moments of Harry and Meghan's first day Down Under?

It was a day of nothing but smiles as newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed the Sydney sunshine to tour the city and meet its people. 

Just yesterday the happy couple and the Royal Family made the big announcement that Meghan Markle is pregnant with their first child which is due at the end of April, 2019. It's thought she's about 12 weeks now. 

The Duchess of Sussex revealed her blossoming baby bump as she stepped out, looking glowing, for the first time following the announcement she is pregnant from Kensington palace

Meghan Markle wore a figure-hugging $1800 white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee, while Harry opted for a navy suit. 

Here is our pick of the best photos of their day in Sydney. 

1. Admiralty House

 

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The couple had a meeting with the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynn, Lady Cosgrove during their first engagement of the day.

Admiralty house is the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, the Queen’s official representative in the country of which she is still head of state. It is located in the suburb of Kirribilli, on the northern foreshore of Sydney Harbour.

Its name originated from the fact that it served as the residence for the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy’s Australia Squadron from 1885 to 1913.

The couple started by walking down the veranda to view the flags of each of the Invictus countries taking part. When congratulated by the media on their happy news, Harry smiled shyly and said, "Thanks".

 

2. The kangaroo

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Inside the mansion’s sitting room, the couple immediately spied a large cuddly kangaroo sitting on the table with, appropriately, a Joey in its pouch.

They laughed as they saw it, Meghan exclaiming: "That’s so cute, our first baby gift!"

"There you are," said Sir Peter, as Harry leant forward to examine the Joey.

"And this is your second," the Governor-General continued, as his wife handed the prince a pair of tiny Ugg boots.

"Very Australian Ugg boots," said Lady Cosgrove.  

"These are awesome," said Harry as he posed for the cameras holding them.

The couple were also handed a pair of traditional Australian wife-brimmed Australian Akubras hats as a belated wedding gift.

"When you go to Dubbo you’ll see some of these," said Sir Peter.

"Thank you so much," said Meghan.

The four then sat down for a half hour official meeting.

"Your Royal Highnesses, welcome to Australia," said Sir Peter, ‘may we on behalf of all Australians congratulate you both on the announcement that you are expecting a baby. We are delighted, it’s amazing, and I know that the people who are already excited to see you will just be enthralled by the fact of this wonderful news."

3. Taronga Zoo

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Next, the  Duke and Duchess of Sussex were introduced to their koala namesakes and a “stud” of a short-legged echidna, as they admired the “so cute” wildlife of Taronga Zoo.

At the zoo, Meghan and Harry were given a toy koala and joey and Meghan said they would put them in the nursery!

The Duchess - who remained in the white Karen Gee dress she wore earlier in the day, but this time accessorised with a beige coat - called the animals “so, so sweet”, shyly named Ruby who sat sleepily on a lower branch in the small, open koala enclosure.

The Duke was more forthcoming, reaching to pet the koala with the encouragement of keepers, and admiring their healthy coats and quizzing keeper Suzie MacNamara about their diet and sleeping habits.

The couple were also shown wallabies and quokkas in their enclosures, leaning on the zoo’s low fences to admire them and watch them being fed.

Accompanied by the premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian, they spent around five minutes with the koalas, Ruby and Wattle, whose joeys were named Meghan and Harry as a wedding gift from the people of the region.

4. The Sydney Opera House

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After their trip to the zoo, the royal couple headed to Sydney Opera House where they took part in a walkabout.

Thousands of well-wishers lined the area and the couple were given soft toys and other gifts, while members of the crowd waves Australian flags.

Daphne Dunne, a 98-year-old who has been dubbed Australia's favourite Aussie, forged a special bond with the duke when he visited the country in 2015, and was photographed greeting him in the pouring rain in Sydney last year.

On Tuesday, she was reunited with the expectant father, who summoned his wife outside the Sydney Opera House to meet her.

Spotting her in her wheelchair, accompanied by her daughter, the duke rushed over to give her a warm hug. 

“I was looking for you earlier and hoped you’d be here, it’s so good to see you again," he said. The duchess too knelt down to embrace her, saying: “I’m so glad I got to meet you. Harry has told me all about you and your special bond, it’s so lovely you came to see us, thank you.” 

Mrs Dunne told the couple of her joy at news of their baby, due in the spring, and gave them a card for the Royal family. 

 

Before leaving, the duchess told her: “Hopefully next time we’ll have our little one with us.” 

 

5. Harry's speech

 

Harry struggled with the words baby in his speech, does this mean they're having twins instead?! He also seemed a big fan of the fact that he was served beer during a daytime reception!