Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex take part in a public walkabout at the Sydney Opera House. Getty
Just hours after announcing they were expecting their first child, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first public appearance on their first 16-day overseas royal tour. (That’s a lot of firsts in 24 hours). The newlyweds, who will welcome a baby in spring 2019, walked hand in hand as they moved from engagement to engagement in Sydney, one day after touching down in Australia from the UK as they embark on a Southern Hemisphere visit.
Image: Getty
The parents-to-be, who wed in Windsor Castle on May 19, were inundated with well wishes as they greeted the public at Sydney Opera House. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, gave a first glimpse at her blossoming baby bump, giving a nod to her host nation in a fitted white dress by Australian designer Karen Gee. Subsequently, thanks to the “Meghan effect”, the label’s website crashed just hours after the royal sported the ‘Blessed’ shift. The former Suits star teamed the minimal number with a classic trench coat, as well as jewelry with a touchingly personal link. The butterfly earrings originally belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, who wore the designs on a royal tour to Canada in 1986.
Image: Getty
During the jam-packed first day of their tour, the duchess and Prince Harry took a ferry to Taronga Zoo, to meet two koalas named after the couple. The duke and duchess also officially opened a research center at the wildlife destination. The couple also met Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, at Admiralty House, where the expectant parents were given gifts for their unborn baby – a toy kangaroo and a tiny pair of Ugg boots. “Our first baby gift!” Meghan said, according to the Daily Mail, while Harry called the miniature shoes “awesome”.
Image: Getty
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Sydney on Monday in preparation for their epic tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. Featuring a whopping 76 engagements on their itinerary, the couple has a jam-packed fortnight ahead, with the schedule designed to “focus on youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region”. The couple will also attend the Invictus Games, which are this year held in Sydney. The tournament, first launched by HRH The Duke of Sussex in 2014, brings together wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women from around the world to compete in 11 sports. This year’s Games will be held in from October 20 to 27; last year’s tournament was held in Toronto, where Prince Harry and the-then Meghan Markle made their first public appearance, just months before their engagement was announced.
With Meghan reportedly joined on the trip by close friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, we can’t wait to see the start to her official maternity wardrobe as the trip rolls out.
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