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How do you spell success? S-U-S-S-E-X.
The visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Australia, Fiji and Tonga was a tour de force.
They seduced everyone, from children to drought-stricken farmers, and shone the spotlight on issues that matter to them – mental health, the environment and the Invictus Games – while putting together a long list commitments in the last 12 days.
Prince Harry and Meghan did not waste time to launch their charm offensive just hours after arriving in Sydney announcing the world news that they were expecting a baby.
While interest in their first major overseas tour since their wedding in May was already high before the arrival of the Duke and Duchess, news regarding babies has brought the situation to another level.
Thousands of people have traveled to wish them luck on their visit to the famous Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House in Dubbo, a drought-stricken city, in the west of NSW, in Melbourne, and on the sandy shores of Queensland's Fraser Island.
All the outfits worn by the Duchess, who would have about four months of pregnancy, were examined by the media for any trace of baby bump.
She even did her part for Australian fashion.
Moments after Meghan donned a Sydney-based Karen Gee's $ 1,800 cream-colored dress, the designer's website collapsed under the flood of orders.
Australians were the first in the world to offer a range of gifts to prospective parents. Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove gave them a tiny pair of ugg boots and a kangaroo.
Sir Peter summed up the fuzzy feelings that the Australians feel towards Harry, describing him as "almost a son of Australia" when he officially welcomed the royal couple to Admiralty House.
Harry dismissed the compliment, saying that he and Meghan "really could not think of a better place to announce the next baby, be it a boy or a girl".
The tour marks Harry's fifth visit to Australia, his last in June 2017 when he launched the countdown to his Invictus Games for injured and sick defense veterans in Sydney this month.
By choosing to bring his new wife to Australia for their first major tour abroad, Harry followed in the footsteps of his parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
Charles took Diana and their nine – month – old son William to Australia for their first official visit abroad in 1983, bringing together a large crowd of spectators during an epidemic of "Di mania".
Thirty-five years later, the Australians were just as welcoming to Harry and Meghan.
One of the possible reasons that the two men were so endearing is that they were not afraid to break the protocol, often holding hands and even hugging the audience.
The hearts melted when Luke Vincent, a 5-year-old Dubbo student, hugged Harry to give him a big hug, then reached out and grabbed his beard.
About 15,000 people gathered to see members of the royal family during a visit that boosted the morale of the drought-ridden regional city.
While Meghan held an umbrella over her head to protect him from torrential rain, Harry urged locals gathered in a local park not to "suffer in silence" at a time when so many people were living hard.
"If you allow me to speak personally, we are all in the same boat because asking for help was one of the best decisions I've ever made," he said. declared, referring to his own difficulties after the death of his mother.
His word touched a chord.
"I just think it's good that they have left the beaten track and traveled to Dubbo to talk to people affected by the drought," said Audrey Weston, a farmer from Warren, PAA. .
While Harry and Meghan made many friends during their visit, the Prince was also delighted to meet Daphne Dunne, a 98-year-old war widow, with whom he had made friends during his visit. last two trips to Sydney.
After spotting Ms. Dunne in her wheelchair among the crowd in front of the opera, Harry eagerly introduced her to Meghan.
"She said that she had heard everything about me, she is so beautiful," said Ms. Dunne.
The royal tour coincided with Sydney's organization of the Invictus Games in Sydney, where Harry and Meghan attended some of the first adaptive sports events in which 500 competitors from 18 countries participated.
But with so much accumulated since their first five days in Australia, the pregnant duchess needed a little bit of time to arrive last Sunday to minimize some expected appearances.
She also avoided traveling with Harry on the rugged terrain of Fraser Island to visit a rainforest, preferring to spend the day in a luxury resort.
However, Meghan delighted locals by joining Harry for a romantic afternoon stroll along a pier.
As the couple takes off for a four day visit to Fiji and Tonga, Meghan looks rested and relaxed.
And she chose Fiji as the venue for her first speech since joining the royal family, sharing her thoughts on the importance of educating women and girls.
The royal couple will oversee the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games on Saturday night before traveling to New Zealand for the final four days of their tour.
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