The Duchess of Sussex proved she’s every bit the hard-working royal on Monday when she joined Prince Harry on Fraser Island, despite Kensington Palace earlier saying she would take the day off to rest.
The palace had announced Meghan was cutting back on engagement’s in the Sunshine State following a hectic first week in Australia, but the mother-to-be apparently didn’t want to disappoint the dozens of hopeful royal watchers who had turned out to see her and joined Prince Harry for an afternoon of planned greetings and activities.
The Duchess served up another stylish look for the afternoon and was all smiles as she stepped out in a gorgeous grey-and-white striped maxi dress with a strategically placed split up the side.
Wearing simple brown sandals and black sunglasses to shade her eyes from the beaming sun, the Duchess glowed as she met with excited fans.
The couple touched down on Fraser Island on Monday morning, with Meghan quickly sneaking away for some down time, as her husband received a blessing from the traditional owners, the Butchulla people, who performed a special smoking ceremony to welcome him to the World Heritage listed island.
In the midst of towering satinay trees, Harry met with local children before unveiling a special plaque for The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative. Speaking about conservation work, the prince highlighted the importance of protecting forests around the world, including the beautiful bushland on Fraser Island.
“World Heritage sites play a critical role in supporting local economies and livelihoods, their destruction can and is having devastating consequences that go way beyond their exceptional beauty and natural value,” he said.
“The program is committed to raising awareness of the value of indigenous forests and to saving them for future generations. Put simply, without trees and forests we do not survive.
“It is up to us now to protect this paradise together, not just because it looks beautiful but because it is an essential part of our existence.”
However, it wasn’t all serious business for Harry, who enjoyed a bit of a giggle with the locals throughout the morning.
Just before he started his speech, an excited female fan in the audience was heard yelling out: “He’s better looking in person!” To which the duke replied with a grin: “I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you”.
The couple’s trip to Fraser Island will be their only visit to Queensland during their Commonwealth tour. They’re also set to visit Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand in the coming days before returning to Sydney for the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games.