Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s office has released the first statement as the couple began their four-day trip to Australia on Tuesday.
The details of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first day activities in Melbourne have been shared on their official website.
The statement appears on sussex.comread: “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Australia for the first time since 2018 today.”
The couple spent the day with organizations and communities working at the forefront of care, recovery and human connection.
The day began at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (RCH), where they were welcomed by the hospital’s chief executive and senior leaders in youth and mental health.
They posed for selfies and did gardening with hospital patients and doctors and helped the veterans’ children make pottery in their busy days.
The statement continued: “After meeting children and families along Main Street, the couple spent time at the hospital’s Kelpie Unit, which, through its Adolescent Health Service, supports young people experiencing complex physical and mental health challenges.
“They spent time in Kelpie’s therapy garden, where RCH patients grow herbs and vegetables for the hospital’s kitchen as part of RCH’s Therapeutic Garden Programme.”
Community and care at McAuley
In the early afternoon, the Duchess visited McAuley Community Services for Women, a specialist organization that supports women and children experiencing family violence, homelessness and related challenges.
During her visit, the Duchess joined staff and residents to serve a communal meal – an experience at the heart of McAuley’s community model.
Honoring veterans through art and reflection
Later in the afternoon, the couple visited the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) where they met with members of the veterans community and their families.
ANVAM is a veteran-led organization that uses artistic expression as a means to support wellness and connect.
The Duke and Duchess viewed a selection of artworks and spoke to veterans and their families about the role creativity can play in recovery and community building.
The couple – who no longer work royally and visit privately – will combine charity visits with fundraising events.
The schedule also reflects the commercial aspect of the trip, with Harry set to deliver a keynote address at a summit where tickets cost up to A$2,400 (£1,260) per person.
Meghan will give a “personal conversation” at a women-only “girls weekend” in Sydney hosted by the producers of Her Best Life Podcast.
It is unclear how much the Sussexes are paid for the commercial events.
