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Sydney (AFP) – Prince Harry and Meghan landed in Sydney on Monday, embarking on an exceptional Pacific tour, the first major outing of the British couple overseas.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a discreet arrival in rainy, winter Australia after a weekend devoted to the wedding celebration of their relative Princess Eugenie and a night commercial flight with Qantas.
We saw them coming out of the airport with the staff, looking relaxed, while Meghan was holding a pair of purple binders and Harry was wearing a brown and green bag.
Their official visit of more than two weeks will be several times in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand – all areas of the Commonwealth, a group consisting mainly of former British colonies.
Queen Elizabeth II is still the head of the Australian state, although the country becomes a republic.
Recent polls show that Australians are split fairly evenly on the issue, with the slimmest majorities favoring the abandonment of the British Queen and the appointment of a head of state. Australian.
During the trip, members of the Royal Family plan to pet the koalas, watch the soldiers play the haka and attend the Invictus Games, a multi-sport tournament for injured, injured or sick members and veterans that opens its doors on Saturday, October 20th.
The entire visit will be closely monitored by the British and Australian media.
Meghan, a photogenic American actress, married Queen Elizabeth II's grandson in May, becoming the last royal king to draw the media's obsession in Britain and beyond.
The 37-year-old recently made waves by accepting the protocol and closing the door of her car.
– Koalas and joeys –
The couple will be accompanied by 10 employees and a significantly larger number of journalists from all major British newspapers and TV broadcasters.
The official visit will begin Tuesday in Sydney, where they will be greeted by Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove – the Queen's official representative – and his wife Lynne.
Members of the Royal Family will meet two koalas and their joeys at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.
After sailing in Sydney Harbor and visiting the famous Bondi Beach, meeting with air doctors, attending the Invictus Games receptions and meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, they left for Fiji on October 23rd. .
Meghan will have the opportunity to speak at a UN-organized event on women's empowerment in the markets and meet with vendors as part of the project in Suva, the United States. capital of Fiji.
They will meet members of the Royal Family of Fiji and Tonga, members of the Commonwealth.
The last step coincides with the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand – the first country to give women the right to vote.
Meghan is scheduled to speak at a birthday celebration in Wellington on Oct. 28.
The couple will have the opportunity to see members of the New Zealand Defense Force play haka – the traditional warrior dance popularized around the world by the country's rugby team – during the summer. a reception given by a governor earlier in the afternoon.
The trip officially ends in New Zealand on October 31st.
Meghan had already visited New Zealand as a tourist in 2014. Prince Harry went to all four countries, but alone.
On their first trip abroad, they traveled to Dublin soon after their wedding.
