Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's incredible return to Australia day one – see best photos

The couple stopped by the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital on Tuesday, where they visited patients and their families around midday.  

The Duchess looked stylish in Australian brand Karen Gee's Priscilla navy dress with gold buttons on the bodice, and wore her brunette tresses pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

Her husband looked dapper in a navy suit with a white collared shirt, and chose to forgo a tie for the occasion. 

Meghan and Harry chatted with onlookers in the hospital's main foyer and took photos with them, before leaving to meet other patients in the vicinity.

The Prince took a moment to shake the hand of a young boy, and asked him to "Give us a big smile!" in a sweet moment between the two.  

17-year-old patient Maya spoke to the Press Association about meeting the duo, and shared: " "I'm very excited. My grandma's a big fan so we're doing this for her just so we can say we saw them – she'll be thrilled.

"It means a lot. Just to know that they're worried about us, they love us, just to know that they love Australia and Melbourne, it's really nice," she continued. "In Melbourne, we love Prince Harry. We all love him so much, just the royal family in general."

A four-year-old patient named Lily held a sign that read: "Welcome Harry and Meghan", which drew the attention of the royals. "Oh my gosh, this is so sweet. I love it," the Duchess said, while her husband added: "Nice to meet you, Lily. That's beautiful. How long did it take?"

They also joined a therapy session with adolescent patients and visited bedbound patients on the ward.

The Duke and Duchess took part in garden therapy, where they smelled a series of plants and flowers. After an onlooker asked if Harry would like to take some gumtree leaves home, he quipped: "I would, but I think I'd probably get arrested at some point."

Meghan then queried: "Do you find that different stories and memories come out that you weren't expecting?"

"The hospital can be a difficult space to be in – but our garden is a contrast to that," said Therapeutic Garden Coordinator Kayte Kitchen. 

"Time in nature has many benefits and has been found to improve mood, reduce stress and increase a person's overall wellbeing – the impact it has on our young patients is incredible."

Queen Elizabeth II opened the hospital back in 1963, and returned to Melbourne in 2011 to open the new building.  

Harry's parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, also stopped by the hospital in 1985 during their royal tour of Australia.

In a statement, the Office of Harry and Meghan said: "Across all engagements, the visit will highlight the duke and duchess's continued commitment to supporting mental health, strengthening support for the armed forces community, and championing the power of connection and shared experience to drive positive change."

"It was clear that both the Duke and Duchess bring a sincere care for, and long-standing commitment to, the mental health and wellbeing of young people," said RCH Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Steer. 

"We were delighted to welcome them to this part of our hospital and to share the remarkable work being done in adolescent health. It was a genuinely meaningful visit for our staff and for the young people receiving care."

"This visit shows our young people that their experiences matter," added Dr Cate Rayner, Director of Adolescent Medicine at the RCH. 

"For young people managing complex health issues, sharing what they are going through is incredibly empowering."

One woman, Christina Parkes, shared just how much Meghan and Harry's visit meant to her and her daughter, 13-year-old Adelaide, who is a patient at the hospital. 

"I'm absolutely thrilled to see the couple. Harry's grandmother actually opened the hospital originally, and her portrait and his grandfather's portrait are in the hallway," she said. 

"I cannot overstate how important the work is that they do here at the children's hospital because my daughter wouldn't be here without them." 

Meghan and Harry's trip marks their first time in Australia in eight years.

Just before their previous trip in 2018, the couple announced they were expecting a baby boy, Prince Archie, much to the delight of royal supporters worldwide.

At the refuge, the mother of two sported a striped navy apron as she joined the women for a bite of frittata. "Is anyone else hungry?" she asked before sitting down at a table. "We landed here this morning so my jet lag hasn't quite hit yet," Meghan told the ladies.

Following their hospital visit, Meghan traveled to a women's homeless shelter run by McAuley Community Services for Women to meet survivors of family violence. 

She then met up with her husband to visit the Australian National Veterans Art Museum. Meghan wore a mock neck sleeveless sweater by Australian brand P Johnson, with a skirt and bomber jacket by fellow Australian brand St Agni and Aquazzura shoes as she was given a tour of the site. 

Meghan shared a laugh with Harry as he held her hand and guided her to the venue, while sporting blue trousers and a green button-up shirt.

At the museum, Meghan smiled joyfully to the cameras without a shred of jet-lag setting in!

Tanya Johnston, founder of Anvam showed Harry and Meghan an exhibit by veterans at the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum

The couple then put on aprons and joined a pottery session with the children of veterans, known as “doves” by the museum, with Meghan crafting a clay ostrich.

She told children at the class: “There’s an ostrich farm actually not far from our home”.

Asked a question about birds by a young girl at the class, Meghan replied: “My husband will know, my husband knows everything about birds.”

When asked what his clay creation was, Harry replied: “It’s a one-winged kookaburra, it’s very rare.”