Royal Tour, Day 7: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Fraser Island

IF YOU were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duchess of Sussex in Queensland today, you may be in luck after all.

Kensington Palace said Meghan Markle will not be participating in scheduled events when she and Prince Harry touch down on Fraser Island today — but those going to meet the Duchess may still get to see her.

A spokesperson has confirmed to news.com.au they’re “working towards” a public appearance on the island today — most likely at Kingfisher Bay Jetty for the scheduled meet-and-greet with the public later this afternoon.

Once they land in Queensland, it seems they’ll get the full local experience. A spokesperson confirmed to news.com.au the couple will fly into Hervey Bay and make the 40 minute trip to the island by boat.

Barges and ferries are the usual transportation for locals and tourists getting to the island but it was speculated the royal couple would leave the mainland by helicopter or charter plane.

A spokesperson also confirmed Meghan will spend the day getting some rest at Kingfisher Bay Resort — where the couple will spend the night — while her husband follows through with the scheduled commitments.

The royal couple were spotted boarding a plane to Queensland at around 10.30am.

The Duchess of Sussex rocked a summery look, with a sleeveless maroon-and-white polkadot dress and her hair tied into a ponytail.

The Prince wore a dark grey button-up shirt with rolled-up sleeves and beige chinos.

Fraser Island is expected to peak at 26 degrees this afternoon, meaning the royal couple should enjoy a pleasant spring day without sweltering.

Grey clouds are still looming to the west of the island over the mainland, but they appear to be making way for blue skies in the distance.

Harry and Meghan were spotted leaving Admiralty House in Sydney just after 9.30am.

The Duchess gave a little wave to the cameras as she and her husband were driven out of Kirribilli.

Harry is expected to take part in a traditional welcome ceremony with the local people and visit an iconic lake in Fraser Island later this afternoon.

Harry and Meghan will arrive at the Kingfisher Bay Resort later this afternoon.

The eco-resort has quiet beaches, secluded villas and a fancy health spa, which will be perfect for the pregnant Duchess, who has been left worn out following a straight week of back-to-back engagements.

Prince Charles stayed at the resort during a visit to Australia in 1994. David Hay, the resort's general manager, suggested he may have influenced Meghan and Harry into staying there.

“We know Prince Charles is very much into sustainability and nature, so he absolutely loved Kingfisher Bay Resort,” he told The Today Show this morning. “We’d like to think he might have had a word with Harry before he came out, and suggested he come and stay with us.”

POSH SPICE ‘HUMILIATED’ AFTER HUSBAND’S INTERVIEW

Victoria Beckham was reportedly left humiliated and in “floods of tears” after her husband David described their marriage as “hard work”.

A friend said it was as if a “nuclear bomb had gone off” in the Beckham house after he sparked renewed speculation about the state of their marriage.

“When you’ve been married for the amount of time that we have, it’s always hard work,” David told The Sunday Project, in an interview which aired last night.

“It becomes a little more complicated.”

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According to a close friend of the Beckhams, the comment didn’t go down well with his wife.

“When Victoria was given the heads up on Wednesday about David’s interview, she was absolutely devastated,” the friend told The Sun.

“She has no idea why he would say such insensitive things and publicly embarrass her like this.

“As you can imagine, it was as if a nuclear bomb had gone off in the Beckham household when she found out.

“She was in pieces and spent the next two days crying. To say it’s not been the best of weeks is an understatement.”

The interview came just four months after the couple was hit by unfounded claims their almost 20-year marriage was on the rocks.

After the incident, Victoria spent two nights at the five-star Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, a stress-management clinic in Baden-Baden, Germany.

The 43-year-old posted an Instagram selfie hiking in the region, sparking rumours over whether she would even join her family in Australia for the Invictus Games.

But Victoria came through, and the celebrity couple touched down in Australia at about 7am yesterday.

After a long flight from London to Sydney, the pair arrived with three of their four children, Romeo, 16, Cruz, 13, and Harper, 7.

David was named an ambassador for the Invictus Games earlier this year and is set to take up duties for the event while Prince Harry is travelling interstate and overseas.

The couple is expected to make a formal appearance at the Games later this week.

DUCHESS TO SKIP FRASER ISLAND ENGAGEMENTS

Despite her new pregnancy taking its “toll” on Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex will be flying to Fraser Island with Prince Harry — but tourists and locals making the trip out to meet her may be left disappointed.

Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday the Duchess will not be participating in the scheduled events, which include being officially welcomed by the traditional owners of the land and meeting locals.

While Meghan took a step back from some duties yesterday, her husband was overheard telling fans she was “resting”.

“Being pregnant takes its toll,” he said.

The muddy island’s rough terrain and expansive rainforest mean four wheel drives are the only way to get between most locations, with travel times up to one hour between landmarks.

It’s unclear what Markle will be doing on the island while her husband completes the scheduled duties.

Before they land in Queensland, Markle could be using the morning for a brief rest and respite in Sydney, with the couple not expected on the island until later in the day.

It’s believed they’ll fly into Hervey Bay and either make their way to the island by helicopter or in a small charter plane, capable of landing on the beach.

While the couple are due to be in Fiji by tomorrow, some outlets are reporting they will stay the night on the island — known for its rainforests and packs of wild dingoes.

While the Duchess won’t be participating in any formal duties, throngs of royal fans who already booked trips to the tourist hotspot will still be hoping to catch a glimpse.

As we speak, locals and tourists — some holding small Australian flags — are already lining up at River Heads Wharf waiting to make the trip over to the island to see the Duke.

Barges and ferries for today’s royal visit are almost at capacity. Hotel owners told news.com.au they had experienced a surge in bookings for the weekend.

The tour down under has had many sentimental links for the Prince. Saturday night’s official Invictus Games opening ceremony marked 45 years to the day that his grandmother the Queen opened the iconic Sydney harbour landmark. And today’s island stay is a nod to the visit his father Prince Charles completed in 1994 at the end of his official Australian tour.

Wet weather has followed the Duke and Duchess down under, and it could find them again in Queensland. While early forecasts predicted a sunny day, showers rolled over the bay last night with flashes of lightning. Clouds have hung around this morning with skies expected to stay overcast.

The Duke of Sussex will take part in a traditional welcome ceremony and unveil the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy plaque later today.

He is also scheduled to visit one of the sand island’s most iconic lakes, before heading to the beach.

Prince Harry will then travel to Kingfisher Bay by boat, and meet excited locals along the picturesque Kingfisher Bay Jetty.

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