Meghan and Harry: Dubbo and Fraser Island prepare the royal carpet of royalty

published

October 14, 2018 06:34:58

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive in Australia in a matter of days, the excitement of a regional New South Wales town has grown.

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive in Sydney on Tuesday before the Invictus Games and their 16-day trip includes stops in Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

Dubbo, in the center-west of the state, is one of the two regional stops of the royal couple's route. The city is painted red, blue and white to celebrate.

"People have gone crazy over the last few days," said Dallas Lee of Dubbo's $ 2Up store.

"We sell a lot of flags, crowns and Australian souvenirs that they can get their hands on," he said.

Stroll through the shopping district of the hinterland city and you will see Union Jacks, Royal Guards and even carvings of the Duke and Duchess.

Drivers bend their heads to look at the two-story display of the Castlereagh hotel, and the front window of local optometrist Burgun and Brennan has become a stop for the city's residents.

Take a look in Molly's Gifts and you'll see royal commemorative cups on sale as well as coloring books celebrating the royal couple's wedding.

"People buy the mugs and they also buy princess and princess books for their children, which means that there was a prince and a princess in our city," said the owner, Therese Porter.

Dubbo prepares for a plum picnic

Although decorations and memorabilia are in demand at Dubbo, the same goes for practical supplies.

On Wednesday, Dubbo City will host a picnic at Victoria Park so that locals have the chance to meet the couple.

"Everybody comes for raincoats in case it rains," said Jason Behagg, from the Aussie Disposals camping store.

"The camp chairs are also going wild, because everyone wants to sit in Victoria Park.

"We have eight pallets of stock coming in today so we can … put everything on the ground because everything will go smoothly."

Retailers expect a rush Monday and Tuesday, many closing Wednesday.

Royal Tour, a tourist attraction for Fraser Island

The Queensland Fraser Coast is preparing to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex next week.

The royal couple will meet the traditional owners of K & # 39; gari (Fraser Island), Butchulla and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Prince Harry and Meghan will visit one of the famous lakes on Fraser Island before going by boat to Kingfisher Bay.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said special guests from the region would be a major asset to the local tourism industry.

"It is not very often that members of the royal family come in. This will be a historic opportunity," he said.

"Visits like this really put us on the map of the world," he said.

"We want them to be welcome here, as we do for all our international visitors.

"We believe that the pristine natural environment on this World Heritage Island is very special, and the fact that it is the only place Queensland visited by the Duke and Duchess confirms it. "

Topics:

tourism,

regional,

community and society,

royal and imperial matters,

human interest,

dubbo-2830

Hervey Bay, 4655,

tonga

New Zealand,

Fiji,

Australia,

Sydney-2000