Prince Harry’s appearance at Garden Island this morning was too much for two Royal Australian Navy sea women, who fainted as the red-haired royal walked along the deck of a nearby ship.
To be fair to the swooning ladies, it was very hot in the sun and Harry was looking particularly dashing in his white dress uniform and blue beret.
After flying in to Sydney very late last night, the 29-year-old Prince arrived at Garden Island shortly before 10am this morning in a motorcade of white limousines, escorted by police motorcycles.
Members of the public who had turned out to watch the Prince’s arrival screamed and cheered as he exited his vehicle and stepped onto a specially erected podium to salute the assembled navy personnel.
He then boarded the HMAS Leeuwin and took a short tour around the ship with Prime Minister Tony Abbott before joining distinguished guests on the deck to mingle.
Governor-General Quentin Bryce arrived at Garden Island shortly afterwards, looking magnificent in spearmint green.
She walked up and down the ranks of servicemen and women before boarding the ship as the marching band played Waltzing Matilda.
The Leeuwin then pulled off into the harbour to commence a four-hour review of the fleet, which includes 37 war ships from around the world and 16 tall ships.
Harry disembarked the ship at around 2.30pm and changed from his uniform into a suit before heading to the Overseas Passenger Terminal where he conducted a rare “meet and greet” with members of the public.
Harry is believed to have specifically requested an opportunity to interact with the public and spent several minutes shaking hands and posing for photos with lucky passers-by.
The prince seemed much more relaxed during the “walkabout” than he was during the more official part of the program, smiling and laughing as he talked to ordinary people, making a lot of effort to talk to as many people as possible.
Harry was then whisked off to Kirribilli House in another boat to attend an afternoon reception hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and attended by some of Sydney’s elite.
Harry’s next stop will be Perth, where he will have a short stopover before leaving Australia to fly to Dubai and then on to England.
It is the prince’s first official visit to Australia, although he spent some time here during his Gap year in 2003.
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