© Photo: PAJust hours after they announced they are expecting their first child in Spring next year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reappeared on day one of their royal tour of Australia. The parents-to-be looked happy as they received a welcome to Admiralty House by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Her Excellency Lady Cosgrove.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who is thought to be over 12 weeks pregnant, received their first (ADORABLE) baby gifts before meeting representatives from each of the 18 Invictus Games countries. They also signed the Visitor's Book.
The couple, who will be staying in Admiralty House for the next week, made the announcement on Monday morning (UK time). Kensington Palace released a statement that read: "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public."
© Photo: PAAll eyes were on pregnant Meghan on Tuesday morning (local time) as fans were keen to get a glimpse of her baby bump for the first time since news broke of her pregnancy. The Duchess, showing a tiny bump in a gorgeous white Karen Gee dress. She accessorised her look with nude suede shoes by Stuart Weitzman.
© Photo: PAFor their first engagement, Meghan wore her hair in loose waves and kept her makeup very natural, opting for a hint of blusher and a light coating of mascara.
© Photo: Getty ImagesA very special detail indeed. Meghan chose to wear a pair of earrings that once belonged to her mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMeghan also wore a bracelet that once belonged to Princess Diana, seen here showing it off during a visit to The Lord Gage Centre For Old People, A Guinness Trust Home, in Newham, East London.
© Photo: PAThe couple received their first baby gift during their morning engagement. They were given a toy kangaroo and its Joey: "Our first baby gift!" said an excited Meghan. Prince Harry was given a tiny pair of Ugg boots. "These are awesome," he said.
© Photo: PAThe dignitaries also presented Harry and Meghan with the Akubras - traditional wide-brimmed Australian hats - gifted to them on the occasion of their wedding in May.
© Photo: PAThe Duke and Duchess joined in on an official group photograph. Several congratulated the couple on their happy news, "Thank you so much," said Meghan. "We are very excited."
Meghan is quite the communicator through her choice of outfits. On Tuesday (local time) she wore the 'Blessed' dress by Australian designer Karen Gee. For her first appearance with Prince Harry at the Invictus Games last year she wore the "Husband" shirt!
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe couple had a jam-packed first day of engagements which also included a visit to Taronga Zoo, where they opened the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning and posed for adorable pictures with two koalas and their joeys. For her second engagement of the day, Meghan wore a camel trench coat over her gorgeous white dress.
The Duchess called the animals "so, so sweet", shyly touching a koala named Ruby who sat sleepily on a lower branch in the small, open enclosure. The Duke was more forthcoming, reaching to pet the koala with the encouragement of keepers, and admiring their healthy coats and quizzing keeper Suzie MacNamara about their diet and sleeping habits.
© Photo: Getty ImagesFollowing a brief 20-minute visit of Taronga Zoo,the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to the water to see spectacular Sydney by boat.
The royal couple - wearing sunglasses and Meghan wearing flat shoes - disembarked at Man O'War Steps, the landing point for British and Australian fleets for 150 years. Several police patrol boats with armed police on board patrolled the harbour as the royal pair took in the views of the city from their vessel.
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry and Meghan were then treated to a private viewing of 'Spirit 2018' by the Bangarra Dance Theatre - an internationally-acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company - during a visit to the Sydney Opera House.
© Photo: Getty ImagesLater, the royal couple took part in a walkabout, where Prince Harry was thrilled to spot Daphne Dunne, 98 - who has been dubbed his 'favourite Aussie', with the Duke stopping to have lengthy chats with her during both his 2015 and 2017 trips to Australia. War widow Daphne’s first husband, Lieutenant Albert Chowne, died aged 25 in 1945 during an attack on a Japanese machine gun post in Papua New Guinea.
After seeing her in the crowd the Prince ran over and knelt down to her as she sat in her wheelchair before giving her a tender hug. As they clasped hands, Harry said: "I was looking for you earlier and hoped you’d be here, it’s so good to see you again." Aw!
© Photo: Getty ImagesHarry was also keen for Meghan to meet her, and she later came over and gave the woman a warm hug. Meghan said: "I’m so glad I got to meet you. Harry has told me all about you and your special bond, it’s so lovely you came to see us, thank you." She added: "Hopefully the next time we see you we'll have our little one with us." Daphne later said: "It was lovely to meet the Duchess Meghan. Harry is a wonderful man and I’m so happy he had found happiness, they both deserved the absolute world together."
© Photo: Getty ImagesMeghan also met and chatted with a number of children who were thrilled to say hello to the Duchess, and gift her with some beautiful blooms.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry revealed that it was Meghan's first time in Australia, and admitted he was excited to show her around. Addressing the room at a reception, he said: "It is great to be back in Australia. And especially even more so this is my wife's first visit here, so I'm very excited to show her this incredible country of yours, perhaps not Kangaroo Flats military training area in Darwin though!"
© Photo: Getty ImagesMeghan was introduced to Australian singer Missy, who attended the event with her nine-week-old daughter, Luna. Chatting about Missy's daughter, Meghan said: "She's so sweet, so cute. Look at her." Missy told the Duchess: "Cherish each moment because it goes by so fast. It really does."
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Harry spoke about being a father-to-be, and how he "genuinely couldn't think of a better place" to make the wonderful annoucement. Speaking at the Governor's reception, he said: "We're both delighted to be here and really impressed to see you serving beer and tea at an afternoon reception, in true Aussie style! Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome and the chance to meet so many Aussies from all walks of life. And we also genuinely couldn’t think of a better place to announce the upcoming baby, whether it’s a boy or a girl, so thank you very very much."
