Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's tender moment with 98-year-old Australian royal super fan

Daphne Dunne had the pleasure of meeting Prince Harry for the third time on Tuesday. Source: Getty
Daphne Dunne had the pleasure of meeting Prince Harry for the third time on Tuesday. Source: Getty

She’s arguably Australia’s biggest fan of Prince Harry, and 98-year-old war widow Daphne Dunne had the pleasure of meeting the royal for the third time on Tuesday during his visit to Sydney.

The Duke of Sussex spent a considerable amount of time speaking with Daphne during his royal walkabout at the Opera House, and even introduced her to Meghan Markle.

Lined up next to hundreds of fans, Daphne – who has been dubbed Harry’s “favourite Aussie” – caught the attention of Prince Harry who instantly recognised her.

“Have you dyed your hair a shade of pink?” Prince Harry asked Daphne, to which she responded, “I did it at home”.

“Kiss me before you go,” she then added before the royal had to leave to continue his walkabout.

Meghan was just as touched to finally meet Daphne, and told her: “Hopefully next time we’re with you we’ll have our little one with us”.

The royal couple spent a considerable amount of time wit Daphne. Photo: Getty
The royal couple spent a considerable amount of time wit Daphne. Photo: Getty

Earlier, Daphne gushed about Prince Harry as she anticipated meeting him again.

“He’s a natural,” she told local media. “He just loves what he’s doing.

“I’m very happy for him. I’m glad he’s got a wife now, and soon have a bubba,” she added.

In June last year, Daphne met Prince Harry for the second time, as she waited outside Admiralty House – the official Sydney residence of the Governor General – with a coolbox of beer ready to meet the Prince after he officially launched the countdown to the 2018 Invictus Games.

Prince Harry recognised her right away. Photo: Channel Seven
Prince Harry recognised her right away. Photo: Channel Seven

When Daphne first met Harry in May 2015, it was again by the Sydney Opera House and he pointed out the Victoria Cross she was wearing.

It belonged to her first husband Albert Chowne, awarded to him posthumously after he died in Papua New Guinea in 1945 during the Second World War.

At the time, Harry had just completed his month-long attachment with the Australian Defence Force.

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Earlier, at Sydney’s Admiralty House, Harry publicly gushed about his wife’s pregnancy for the first time.

“It is great to be back in Australia, and especially even more so this is my wife’s first visit here, so I am very excited to show her this incredible country of yours,” Harry said in a speech at Admiralty House this afternoon.

“We also genuinely couldn’t think of a better place to announce the upcoming baby, be it a boy or a girl,” he added later on in his speech.

Kensington Palace announced yesterday that the couple are expecting their first child together.

“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,” the palace said in statement on Twitter.

“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.”