Harry and Meghan visit children’s hospital as 4 day Australia tour kicks off to mixed reception
Harry and Meghan hug patients as hundreds greet them at children’s hospitalThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex hugged patients at a children's hospital as hundreds of people turned out to greet them at the beginning of their four day visit to Australia.Harry and Meghan spoke to children and posed for photographs with patients, as they were cheered by large crowds gathered along the walkways of the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday, 14 April.Four-year-old patient Lily presented them with a hand-drawn sign that said: "Welcome Harry and Meghan" and she also gave a flower to the duchess. Meghan hugged Lily after being presented with the gifts and told her: "Oh my gosh, this is so sweet. I love it."After being shown Lily's sign, Harry said: "Nice to meet you, Lily. That's beautiful. How long did it take?"Harry and Meghan also took part in a garden therapy session with patients at the hospital, smelling plants and flowers. Asked if he would like to take some gumtree home, Harry, wearing a navy jacket, white shirt and metal bracelets, joked: "I would, but I think I'd probably get arrested at some point."Meghan, wearing a Karen Gee navy sleeveless dress, asked the patients: "Do you find that different stories and memories come out that you weren't expecting?"Following the hospital visit, Meghan visited a women's refuge in the city. She donned an apron and served frittata to people at the centre, run by McAuley Community Services for Women, which supports women and children experiencing family violence, homelessness and related challenges.After serving several people, Meghan asked "is anyone else hungry?", while looking and smiling at the press and other people gathered in the centre. Mum of two Meghan sat at a table and joined people eating food at the centre, telling them: "We landed here this morning so my jet lag hasn't quite hit yet."The couple were greeted by a mass of local media as they entered the hospital with their visit the subject of intense press interest in Australia.While greeting crowds at the hospital, Harry hugged Christina Parkes, who works as an academic at the University of Melbourne. Ms Parkes, whose 13-year-old daughter Adelaide is a patient at the hospital, said it "means an enormous amount" to have the couple visit Australia.Speaking before the couple arrived, Ms Parkes told the Press Association: "I'm absolutely thrilled to see the couple. Harry's grandmother actually opened the hospital originally, and her portrait and his grandfather's portrait are in the hallway."Asked what she planned to say to the couple, Ms Parkes said: "Welcome to Australia, we hope they enjoy their time here. Thank you for taking the time to visit the hospital and see the work that the doctors and nurses are doing. I cannot overstate how important the work is that they do here at the children's hospital because my daughter wouldn't be here without them."Harry and Meghan visited the hospital's wards and met oncology patient Hamish, with the duke discussing Aussie rules football with him. The duke asked the 17-year-old: "Who's your team, are they doing well in the league?"The couple also met 17-year-old patient Maya, who said the hospital does "amazing" work. Speaking before meeting the couple, Maya told PA: "I'm very excited. My grandma's a big fan so we're doing this for her just so we can say we saw them – she'll be thrilled."It means a lot. Just to know that they're worried about us, they love us, just to know that they love Australia and Melbourne, it's really nice. In Melbourne, we love Prince Harry. We all love him so much, just the royal family in general."The hospital's chief executive, Dr Peter Steer, said the turnout to greet the couple was "extraordinary", adding "imagine if we'd let them know in advance".Speaking to PA, Dr Steer said: "I think you've seen by the reception, everybody – staff, patients and their families – are very, very excited just to see them and be part of the occasion. The fact that they've taken such time and stopped, I think they have made many a day here today for our patients and families in particular."Young parents say if you see me in the hospital, it might be your work day, but it's our worst day. This kind of special time and special occasion changes their day."Yet some Australians have shared their disapproval over Harry and Meghan's trip Down Under, as a number of people in Sydney told BBC the couple are 'boring', with one resident adding "I don’t know why they’re coming".Another Sydney resident said: "They are very much about self promotion, they’d probably be my least favourite royals, put it that way."
