Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 44, Receive Superstar Welcome on Visit to Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital — Photos

During the visit, the couple spent time meeting children and their families, pausing for photos, conversations, and heartfelt interactions that quickly became the defining images of their arrival in Australia.

Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 44, were met with an overwhelming reception as they stepped out for their first engagement in Melbourne, drawing packed crowds at the Royal Children's Hospital on 14 April 2026.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began their four-day Australian visit with a stop that quickly turned into a scene of excitement, as families, staff, and supporters filled every available space inside the hospital to catch a glimpse of the couple.

Cameras were raised high, phones flashed, and cheers rippled through the crowd as the pair made their way through the busy wards.

The Duchess of Sussex appeared at ease in a sleeveless navy dress with gold button detailing — a £650 (AUS$1,250) piece by Australian designer Karen Gee.

A press release issued to coincide with her appearance confirmed that Meghan had "personally selected" the dress, along with a number of pieces from Gee's collection, to wear throughout the week.

It was a label with sentimental resonance; she had worn one of Gee's dresses during her last visit to Australia back in 2018. Her husband, meanwhile, opted for a classic dark suit, and the pair were frequently seen smiling, waving, and stopping for photos.

Despite the celebratory mood inside the hospital, the visit quickly sparked a wave of commentary online, with reactions sharply divided.

At several moments, they paused to greet children and their families, with the Duchess offering warm hugs and kneeling to speak at eye level with younger patients, creating a more intimate atmosphere amid the buzz.

The visit blended public spectacle with quieter, more personal exchanges. The Duke and Duchess were seen crouching beside children, chatting with parents, and even joining in for selfies, as delighted onlookers leaned in to capture the moment.

In one particularly striking scene, the couple posed with a group of young patients and hospital staff, their smiles wide as a sea of phones documented the encounter. Despite the celebratory mood inside the hospital, the visit quickly sparked a wave of commentary online, with reactions sharply divided.

Some responses were openly critical of the optics of the visit. One person commented, "What is this? why [sic] are they using those poor children as props?" while another shared, "Markle and harry are not showing their kids' faces cause privacy while using other people's kids for this [sic]."

The couple's public display of affection did not go unnoticed either.

A further remark read, "Poor kids," as others questioned the circumstances around the gathering. Concerns about the children's wellbeing also surfaced, with one person writing, "The hospital took sick children out of their bedrooms to put them in line to welcome private citizens. Seriously I'm shocked!!"

Another added, "The kids don't seem interested at all. But given their current state, it's understandable. They should be resting."

Others cast doubt on the authenticity of the reception itself. "This looks like a rent a crowd - nobody looks like they want to be there including the children 😮," one comment read, while another typed, "They are probably hired audience members for the shoot."

A similar sentiment followed, with one person stating, "The crowd look [sic] very underwhelmed 😂." The Duchess of Sussex also became a focal point in several remarks, with one person writing, "Look at her. She loves It. She Is the One Who did not want attention [sic]😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂."

Another observer added, "Lol look at the faces that she pulls 😂 how is she even an actress."

The couple's public display of affection did not go unnoticed either. One comment noted, "Still holding hands even in a hospital...seriously 😬🫣."

The visit's impact was not lost on those who witnessed it firsthand. Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO, Board Chair of The Royal Children's Hospital, was unequivocal in her assessment, telling PEOPLE:

"Look around and you can see the crowds of people, the smiles on their faces and what it means to them. Everyone is absolutely delighted."

"You can't measure the morale boost, but it is palpable," she added.

"Many of these patients have been here for quite some time and are often very frequent visitors to the hospital, a joy like this is wonderful for them."

From the hospital, Meghan made her way solo to McAuley Community Services for Women, a shelter supporting survivors of family violence, where she rolled up her sleeves, donning a pinstriped apron to serve frittatas to residents.

It was there that she shared a warm and widely circulated exchange with a woman named Leah, who wasted no time in offering the Duchess an effusive compliment as Meghan dished up her plate.

"You look amazing, you look like a model," Leah told her. Visibly caught off guard, Meghan replied, "Oh my god, that's so generous."

Leah pressed on, "You've got children and you don't have wrinkles. Nice glow as well." A laughing Meghan shook her head, insisting that she did have wrinkles, before telling Leah warmly, "You are so nice!"

The clip made its rounds online, though not everyone was charmed. "She is so full of herself and her title," one viewer scoffed. Another was more pointed, fuming, "I met her in London. She's a nasty piece of work. She's only nice when cameras are on her."

A third took a different angle entirely, demanding, "Why are they cosplaying royals and mimicking a royal tour? Why is the hospital allowing this nonsense?"

Later, the couple reunited at the Australian National Veterans Art Museum, where they joined children for a pottery class — aprons on, hands in clay, and Harry in characteristically playful form.

A clip shared online captured Meghan fielding a rather ambitious request from one of the young participants, who asked her to sculpt an ostrich. "That's a tough order, but I can try," she said gamely, rolling a ball of clay in her hands.

Harry, meanwhile, kept the children entertained in his own way — by pressing a piece of clay to his face and inhaling deeply, earning bemused delight from the room.

It was also at the Veterans Museum that a fleeting moment between the couple caught the attention of a body language expert. As Harry and Meghan crossed the road outside the venue, the Duchess was seen clutching her husband's arm, while Harry extended a protective arm outward as traffic paused to let them pass.

When a reporter called out to ask whether they were enjoying Australia, Harry replied cheerfully, "Yeah, it's wonderful. It's great to be back. Thanks for having us back," before placing a gentle hand on Meghan's back as they headed inside.

Body language expert Darren Stanton, speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, interpreted Meghan's grip as instinctive rather than theatrical.

"I think it was more of a protective gesture," he told Royal Insider. "It seemed like a moment of panic that Harry was about to step out in front of the cyclists, even though Harry seemed to be aware of them and they seemed to have stopped."

He added that the reaction, conscious or not, spoke to something deeper. "Even though she may have known there was no danger, this is a subconscious instinctive gesture to protect the ones we love."

Stanton concluded that Meghan's reflexive pull said something telling about the couple's bond — "The fact her reflex is to pull him away from danger, real or imagined, shows how much Harry means to her and the strength of their bond. It is actually really sweet to see."

As their Australian tour continues across Canberra and Sydney, the Duke and Duchess' first appearance has already set the tone — high-profile, highly visible, and certain to keep conversation flowing both on the ground and online.

Meghan Opens up About a Decade of Online Abuse

Day three of the Australian tour took a more personal turn when Meghan made a remarkably candid admission during a visit to Swinburne University of Technology, where she told students she had spent a decade as the world's most targeted person online.

Addressing young people connected to mental health organisation Batyr, the Duchess spoke with a directness that clearly struck a chord with those in the room. "For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked," she said. "And I was the most trolled person in the entire world."

The audience, many of whom are grappling with their own complicated relationships with social media, appeared visibly moved by her words.

Meghan went on to explain that having lived through sustained online hostility had given her a particular sensitivity when listening to others in similar situations. "I can speak to that really personally, which is why I like to listen, because it rings true for me in a very real way," she said.

Rather than dwelling in victimhood, however, she closed the thought on a note of defiance:

"Now, I'm still here."

She also widened the lens beyond her personal experience, arguing that the profit-driven architecture of social media platforms makes meaningful reform unlikely.

"That industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks — that's not going to change," she said. "So you have to be stronger than that."

Harry, standing beside her, used the occasion to champion Australia's decision to ban under-16s from social media — a policy that has sparked fierce debate both domestically and internationally.

"Australia took the lead," he said. "Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban... from a responsibility and leadership standpoint — epic."

He was careful to add, though, that the ban itself represented a failure of corporate accountability rather than a victory. "It should have never, ever got to a ban," he said.

"Because the companies themselves have to be accountable, and there's no way that young people should be punished by being banned from something that should be safe to use."

Meghan's 'Her Best Life' Retreat: What to Expect

Separate from the couple's official engagements, Meghan is also set to headline a ticketed women's retreat in Sydney from 17 to 19 April, with the event drawing attention for both its price point and its exclusivity.

Held at the InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel and organised by podcaster Gemma O'Neill, the three-day gathering — which has been cheekily nicknamed "Meg-stock" by those who have snapped up places — is expected to draw around 300 attendees.

Gemma has billed it as the ultimate girls' weekend, centred on wellness, self-development, and the rare opportunity to spend time in the Duchess's company.

Tickets begin at roughly $1,780 (approx. £900) per person for a twin-share room, but those wanting to walk away with a group photo with Meghan will need to opt for the VIP package at around $2,110 (approx. £1,110).

The additional outlay of approximately $330 (approx. £170) for the photo has raised eyebrows, not least because a strict no-phones, no-recording rule will be enforced throughout Meghan's interview segment — leaving that paid photograph as the sole keepsake many attendees can expect to take home.

Beyond the headline appearance, the weekend's programme includes a session with therapist Dr Justine Corry, meditation and manifestation workshops, a gala dinner, and an evening of dancing.

Gemma, when announcing Meghan's participation, heaped praise on the Duchess and maintained that her involvement was born of genuine commitment to women's empowerment rather than any commercial incentive.

Whether or not that framing holds, appetite for the event has been considerable — organisers initially announced that all places had been snapped up, only to release a further batch of rooms in the weeks that followed.

Beyond the headlines generated by their Australian tour, Harry and Meghan's dynamic in the spotlight has attracted a different kind of scrutiny in recent months — one that stretches back well before their arrival Down Under.

Prince Harry appeared less comfortable than Meghan Markle during their Valentine's Day outing at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, according to a body language expert who claimed the duchess took the lead in shaping the couple's public display.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent Valentine's weekend courtside at the 75th All-Star Game in California, seated prominently in the front row as cameras repeatedly swept across the arena. While they held hands and smiled, their responses to the spotlight appeared notably different.

Harry, by contrast, often faced the court, his posture directed more towards the action than the surrounding cameras.

Upon her head-turning arrival, Meghan wore a navy knit top with matching trousers, accessorised with a delicate gold necklace and bracelet. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders as she walked through the venue smiling, briefly lifting a hand to adjust it as photographers captured the moment.

Harry followed behind in a dark button-down shirt, grey jeans, and green trainers — later adding a grey baseball cap once seated.

When they took their courtside seats beside Queen Latifah and her partner, Eboni Nichols, Meghan frequently angled her body towards her husband, clasping his arm with both hands or resting her hand on his knee in moments of public affection.

Harry, by contrast, often faced the court, his posture directed more towards the action than the surrounding cameras. Body language expert Judi James revealed that Meghan appeared energised by the attention, stating:

"Meghan's wide, symmetric smile for the cameras and raised and rounded cheeks suggest she's delighted by the attention and the opportunity to create her own perfectly curated set of Valentine love signals to show off her relationship with Harry."

The body language expert added that Meghan's gestures reinforced that impression, sharing, "She holds his thigh in a possessive and flirty looking gesture, or she clings onto his arm with both hands to register closeness, furiously rubbing his arm to alert him to the Jumbotron and urge him to join in with her smiling excitement."

Photographs show Meghan leaning in closely when speaking to Harry, her legs crossed towards him in what the body language expert described as signs of "exclusive closeness."

The body language expert continued, "When they speak, she leans her head close, keeping her eyes fixed on the action." The royal was also seen applauding enthusiastically and smiling brightly as she remained engaged with the game. Harry's expressions, however, were interpreted differently, as Judi explained:

"Harry appears less comfortable posing for the camera here. His mouth smile looks effortful and doesn't really reach his eyes. His wide leg splay hints at confidence but maybe just a desire to enjoy watching the game."

In several images, the duke's gaze remained fixed on the basketball court, suggesting what the expert framed as camera discomfort rather than shared enthusiasm for the spectacle.

The couple's recent Valentine's appearance echoed a similar sporting outing in October last year, when they attended an LA Dodgers game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Seated front row on that occasion as well, they appeared on the stadium's big screen wearing LA Dodgers caps. At the time, Judi speculated that the pair may have been "very aware" of their public image and could have subtly staged candid moments.

The sweet post offered a softer counterpoint to the courtside spectacle, shifting the focus from arena cameras to a carefully curated family tribute shared on the couple's own terms.

This year's Valentine's Day celebrations extended beyond the arena. On February 14, Meghan shared a personal photograph on Instagram marking the occasion.

The image showed Harry outdoors at sunset, holding their daughter, Princess Lilibet, with a cluster of red balloons floating above them against a fading sky lined with palm trees.

Harry, dressed casually in a dark T-shirt and trousers, smiled warmly as his daughter wrapped her arms around him. The red balloons, tied together with ribbon, created a striking Valentine's tableau and underscored the couple's emphasis on family life.

Alongside the image, Meghan wrote, "These two + Archie = my forever Valentines." The sweet post offered a softer counterpoint to the courtside spectacle, shifting the focus from arena cameras to a carefully curated family tribute shared on the couple's own terms.

Ultimately, the couple's latest courtside appearance offered two contrasting narratives unfolding side by side. On one hand, there was Meghan's visibly animated engagement with both the game and the cameras — a display that the body language expert characterised as deliberate and image-aware.

On the other hand, there was Harry's more reserved demeanour, which the expert interpreted as a sign of relative unease under the glare of public attention.

However, whether viewed as a natural difference in personality or a calculated public moment, the outing once again placed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle firmly in the spotlight.