Exclusive: “If I have kids when I grow up, I would probably show them the photo.”
The Sussexes may no longer be working royals, but they have certainly captured the attention of hundreds of young fans.
Joshua, seven, met Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and snapped a photo. (Supplied)
While a throng of hundreds of staff, patients, journalists and royal fans would have paid good money for a photo with arguably one of the most famous women in the world, Joshua was handed the golden ticket.
“That was good. Mummy likes it,” Joshua told Nine.com.au.
“I got a handshake from her.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to see Harry.”
His mum added that Joshua did his British-born grandmother proud.
During the couple’s walk through the foyer of the children’s hospital, Harry and Meghan dedicated at least 10 minutes speaking with young patients, dishing out warm hugs and posing for photos.
Meghan stopped and spoke to Adnan and his daughter Enora, a patient at the hospital, for several moments.
The couple dished out warm hugs and took photos during their visit. (Joe Armao)
The Sussexes may no longer be working royals, but they have certainly captured the imagination of hundreds of young fans. (AP)
Adnan said it was wonderful for Enora to meet a “princess”.
“It’s amazing because she’s always treated like a princess, so to be able to see another princess come into a hospital and greet her before she’s released straight home…. it’s good, very joyful, [she was] really friendly,” he said.
As parents of their own two young children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, Adnan said it took “courage” for Harry and Meghan to visit sick kids.
“It’s been a tough journey, but knowing that she’s going to get better and she has done the surgery and she’s in recovery, now she’s in rehab,” he added.
“By today, hopefully we’ll go home and we’ll put a smile on her face and she can stay home with her siblings.”
Enora (centre) pictured with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Joe Armao)
Another young patient who has undergone multiple heart surgeries told nine.com.au it was “really nice” to see the Sussexes take the time to speak to him.
“They were really friendly, they had a lot of enthusiasm,” he said.
“We spoke to Meghan… me and Mum just told her I’ve been here since birth.
“I’ve I had 11 holes in my heart when I was born and I had two open heart surgeries here, so meeting them made everything worth it.”
During the couple’s walk through the foyer of the children’s hospital, Harry and Meghan dedicated at least 10 minutes speaking with young patients, (AP)
After greeting fans in the foyer, the made making their way into a private part of the hospital to see other patients.
The hospital was opened by Harry’s late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in 1963, and she returned in 2011 after it underwent major renovations.
One nurse, who missed spotting Harry and Meghan because she was seeing patients, told nine.com.au she was also working when the late Queen visited The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne 15 years ago.
Harry’s parents, now-King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, also visited the hospital during their royal tour of Australia in 1985.
Harry and Meghan will spend the next two days in Melbourne, before jetting to Canberra and Sydney.
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