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 black dress with gold button detailing, while the Duke opted for a classic dark suit, the pair 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 😬🫣."

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.

But while their Melbourne visit showcased a united and warmly received front, recent appearances elsewhere have sparked a different kind of scrutiny — particularly when it comes to the couple’s dynamic in the spotlight.

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.