Royal Tour, Day 3: Meghan and Prince Harry take a trip around Melbourne

A MAN has been removed from the crowd of royal watchers waiting for Meghan and Harry to arrive at Melbourne’s Government House.

The man, aged in his 30s, co-operated with police when they confronted him behind barriers at the Royal Botanic Gardens, where the Duke and Duchess are due to arrive shortly after 11am.

Dressed in a dark red shirt and tan shorts, he was led away in handcuffs after being asked “what are you doing here?” by a female police officer.

News.com.au approached Victoria Police for comment. A spokeswoman said she did not have any information about why the man had been arrested at this time.
As with every stop on the royal tour, security is tight ahead of their arrival.

Dozens of police in hi-vis vests are patrolling the road, along with event staff and a separate security team.

MEGHAN AND HARRY TOUCH DOWN IN MELBOURNE

Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle have touched down in Melbourne where the royal couple has another packed schedule, including a ride on one of the city’s iconic trams.

After jetting out of Sydney on Thursday morning, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped off the plane in Melbourne about 10.45am, more than six hours after royal watchers began taking their places.

Meghan was wearing a black, mid-length dress and trench coat, while Harry was formally attired in a dark suit and tie.

Rain is following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The prince was drenched during his time at Dubbo on Wednesday and showers are forecast for Melbourne on Thursday, but organisers have promised everything will go ahead as planned.

Their itinerary includes a short tram ride on the world’s largest urban tram network, which boasts some 250km of track.

It’s likely to be a shiny new carriage fit for a king, or at least sixth-in- line-to-the-throne.

The expectant parents will also spend time meeting the public, before visiting a school and a beach.

The couple will meet young community leaders during a special reception hosted by Governor Linda Dessau.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to host the duke and duchess, to show them innovative programs by young Victorians, and to introduce them to our next generation of leaders,” the governor said ahead of the visit. Premier Daniel Andrews, who supports an Australian republic, met Prince Harry and Meghan at the airport.

“There’s some activities at Government House including an opportunity for the royal couple to meet lots of Victorians who I’m sure will be queued up to say ‘hello’ and to say ‘congratulations’ on the pregnancy and then there’s a pretty full program of events,” he said After a busy day in Melbourne, Harry and Meghan will head back to Sydney.

— AAP

EXCITEMENT BUILDS FOR ROYALS’ ARRIVAL

On Government House Drive, an atmosphere of excitement is building, with over 3000 people hoping to catch a glimpse of the royals.

Fans refused to let the drizzly Melbourne weather ruin the opportunity to dress to impress the royals — including Toni, 24, from Richmond who arrived at 8am, decked out in a personalised “Harry and Meghan” T-shirt.

“This is my first royal tour, and I just love Meghan,” she told news.com.au.

“She’s the new Diana, the people’s princess. It’s so cool that she takes so much time to talk to people, and spend time with all the kids she meets on tour.”

Shelley McLean was 13 when she first met the royals.

It was in Melbourne’s Bourke St mall in 1983 and then-teenage Shelley became infatuated immediately.

She took photographs of Diana and Charles and gushed as the pair walked past.

Fast forward 34 years and she still has royal fever.

On Thursday, as Prince Harry and Meghan prepared to greet adoring fans in Melbourne, Shelley was at it again.

She was holding a sign that reads “Harry I wagged school in 1983 to meet your parents” but in her pockets is where the real gold lies.

She has photographs of her teenage self at the mall that day and a close up on her first run-in with royalty.

She also has a gift for Harry and Meghan — a toy koala.

“I’m a crazed royal fan,” she told news.com.au.

“My daughter got to meet the Queen when she came to Federation Square, so it’s a bit of a tradition.”

Shelley said she was awake until 2am making her consume because that’s when she does her best work.

And she’ll cry if she doesn’t get to say hello to the Duke and Duchess.

“I’m literally going to be crying. I’ll be beside myself.”
Gavin, 6, loves Prince Harry and Meghan so much he begged his mum to let him stay home from school to meet them.

Once given the green light, he stayed up making a gold-painted dinosaur pasta necklace for “Princess Meghan”, and laid out his favourite outfit (it’s a pilot uniform, and seemed fitting.)

His mum Rowan told news.com.au that he and little sister Vivian, 2, are obsessed with the royals.

“They woke up so early, they’re so excited!” she said. “They can’t wait until they have a royal baby.”

Meanwhile, young royal fan Ruby isn’t so fussed about meeting Harry and Meghan, she just wants to see them.

As crowds pushed and shoved their way closer to the barricades along Government House Drive, Ruby took up her position on the branches of a tree.

She doesn’t know what she’ll say to the happy couple if she gets to meet them.

“I’ll just wave at them,” she said.

More than 3000 people have gathered along the side of the road waiting for their chance to meet royalty.

Harry and Meghan are expected to arrive shortly after 11am.

— Bronte Coy and Rohan Smith

KITTY SPENCER ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA

Lady Kitty Spencer, niece to Princess Diana and cousin of Prince Harry, has landed in Australia.

The 27-year-old fashion model was snapped at Perth airport wearing dark-tinted sunglasses, and rocking a casual plain grey tee underneath a green military jacket, with blue jeans.

Kitty is in Australia to help support the Channel 7 Perth Telethon from October 20.

The socialite flew in from Dubai, where she spent a glamorous working holiday helping to launch Italian luxury brand Bvlgari’s new Fiorever jewellery collection.

ROYAL COUPLE HEADS TO MELBOURNE

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have just been snapped boarding a RAAF plane from Sydney Airport to Melbourne.

The Duchess looked more dressed up and glamorous today, with her hair out, a navy blue fitted midi dress and black stilettos.

Prince Harry matched her with a navy suit and crisp white button-up shirt.

It’s a noted contrast from the more relaxed outfits the pair sported in Dubbo yesterday.

Yesterday Meghan wore an untucked white Maison Kitsune shirt over a loose grey Serena Williams Collection jacket, denim jeans by Australian brand Outland Denim, and her hair tied in a ponytail.

Harry wore a blue denim button-up shirt loosely tucked into black pants — and both the royals had their Akubra hats at the ready.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to touch down in Melbourne later this morning, where they will visit local cafes and primary schools, take part in a beach clean and — of course — a meet-the-people walk.

This marks the third day of their official Down Under tour — the pair’s first overseas trip as a married couple. Meghan and Harry spent the day touring Sydney on Tuesday before flying out to the town of Dubbo yesterday.

The wet weather looks set to follow the pair from Dubbo to Melbourne. The city woke to light showers today and there is a 50-50 chance of rain continuing throughout the day.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal pair? Their first appearance will be a walkabout to meet members of the public at Government House Drive.

This will be followed by a reception at Government House, a local primary school visit, and an iconic Melbourne tram ride to South Melbourne beach.

With thousands expected to rock up, we only have one piece of advice for you: Arrive early.

KARL BLASTS PIERS IN FURIOUS RANT

Meghan Markle has received an outpouring of support after Piers Morgan accused her of being fake.

This morning Today host Karl Stefanovic called for the former tabloid editor to be axed over his remarks.

“I think it’s disgraceful,” he said. “I think she is an amazing woman, and she’s doing her very best at the moment. She’s got a lot on her plate.

“What is that guy on? He’s lost the plot completely. Imagine just for a second, putting up with a dude like that who’s so up himself and so egotistical, that he feels he can say those things about her. It’s disgusting. You would not put up with it.

“He needs to go. He’s off the mark here. I’m on Meghan’s side.”

“I am very much on the side of Meghan Markle, I think she's a beautiful, wonderful woman,” added Georgie Gardner. “They look very truly in love, I don’t think there’s any acting there.”

Morgan hit back on Twitter, telling Karl to “pipe down”.

😂😂😂Pipe down @karlstefanovic - you after an honorary knighthood or something? https://t.co/9mScwgTGjX
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 17, 2018

In a scathing live-to-air rant on UK television overnight, Morgan said: “She is an actress. She’s acting great at the moment.”

Not long afterwards, he tweeted a picture of her looking at Prince Harry with the caption: “Once an actress...’

😂😂😂 Once an actress... pic.twitter.com/lSMEdIZOs5
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 17, 2018

But social media users aren’t having a bar of it:

Piers sees the true love, happiness, support and equality between Megan and Harry which is why he continues to malign it. He's knows they are the real deal otherwise he'd ignore them. Piers thought he'd be able to break Meghan but she's STILL shining bright living her best life.
— Erikk_the_Dane™ (@Erikk_the_Dane2) October 17, 2018