Royal family member arrives in Sydney just hours apart from Harry and Meghan


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are concluding their four-day whirlwind tour of Australia – and they've narrowly missed seeing an unexpected royal family member


Eleanor Dye
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
4 days ago
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have arrived in Sydney for the final leg of their whirlwind tour of Australia. 

The couple has spent time in Melbourne and Canberra over the past few days and will conclude the tour in Sydney, which includes Meghan's three-day "Her Best Life" wellness retreat, with their flight landing in the early hours of the morning. 

But they're not the only royals to have jetted Down Under this week. 

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the future Queen of Norway, has returned to Sydney to resume her university studies after a two-week Easter break back in her home country. 

Earlier this week, she joined her parents, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as well as her younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, to host a reception for Norwegian Paralympic athletes. 

prince harry and meghan markle bondi© Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are wrapping up their whirlwind Australia tour

The 22-year-old will now resume her studies for her bachelor's degree in social sciences at the University of Sydney, a senior communications advisor for the Palace confirmed to Nettavisen. It is unlikely she will meet the Sussexes as she resumes her studies privately. 

Royal trips to Australia

King Charles and Queen Camilla embarked on a royal tour to Australia, where the King is head of state, in 2024. The six-day trip was his first since becoming monarch and saw an action-packed schedule of events alongside the continuation of his cancer treatment. 

The couple were largely received with a warm welcome, though there was a protest in Canberra's Parliament House ahead of their arrival. 

Princess Ingrid Alexandra had returned to Norway for the Easter holidays© NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Princess Ingrid Alexandra had returned to Norway for the Easter holidays

There have been calls for Prince William and Kate to undertake a similar trip, having last visited in 2014 with an eight-month-old Prince George. The Princess of Wales briefly hinted during last year's St Patrick's Day parade that she would like to take her children to visit again, now that they are a bit older. 

Harry last saw his father, Charles, in September, for a brief meeting over tea at Clarence House. Recent reports suggest he hopes to bring his family to the UK to reunite with Charles over the summer, depending on the status of his security in the UK. 

Harry and Meghan's Australia trip – the final day

Prince Harry and Meghan travelled to Australia to attend a series of "philanthropic", "charity" and "private" engagements. 

prince harry meghan markle sydney opera house© WireImage
Harry and Meghan narrowly missed another royal in Australia

On the final day, they met survivors and responders of the Bondi Beach terror attack on 14 December. Survivor Jessica Chapnik Kahn said it was an "honour" to meet the couple, adding: "The greater problem in the world right now is hate. Hate is a human problem that we're facing, a very big problem. So to highlight that, to be able to connect with them on this heart level, I think is very special."

The Bondi shooting was named the worst terror attack in Australia's history, with 15 people losing their lives, while dozens more were injured. 

After their visit to the famed beach, Meghan and Harry went on to join members of the Invictus Games community on a boat ride around Sydney Harbour. The Duchess is now due to head into the city to attend the Her Best Life retreat as the event's guest speaker.

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