She wowed in white on her first outing in Australia, and pregnant Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, changed into flat shoes after meeting some cute koalas with her husband Prince Harry at Sydney’s zoo.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were introduced to their koala namesakes and a “stud” of a short-legged echidna, as they admired the “so cute” wildlife of Taronga Zoo on Oct. 16.
At the zoo, Meghan and Harry were given a toy koala and joey and Meghan said they would put them in the nursery!
The couple, who announced they are expecting their first baby yesterday, were invited to stroke two koalas and their joeys, who were named Harry and Meghan in honour of the royal wedding in May.
The Duchess – who remained in the white Karen Gee dress she wore earlier in the day, but this time accessorised with a beige coat – called the animals “so, so sweet”, shyly named Ruby who sat sleepily on a lower branch in the small, open koala enclosure.
The Duke was more forthcoming, reaching to pet the koala with the encouragement of keepers, and admiring their healthy coats and quizzing keeper Suzie MacNamara about their diet and sleeping habits.
The couple were also shown wallabies and quokkas in their enclosures, leaning on the zoo’s low fences to admire them and watch them being fed.
Accompanied by the premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian, they spent around five minutes with the koalas, Ruby and Wattle, whose joeys were named Meghan and Harry as a wedding gift from the people of the region.
In a private moment away from the cameras, they couple were also given a stuffed toy version of the animal in celebration of their baby news.
In a research laboratory at the zoo, they were also introduced to Lynx, a short-legged echidna being studied.
Dr Phoebe Meagher, research and pathology coordinator, told the couple that the animal is the “star” of their recent project, which helps tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Showing them the ID tags, Michelle Shaw, wildlife nutritionist, said he is a breeding male, joking: “He’s kind of a stud, he’s had two babies.”
The Duke seemed concerned about the animal’s wellbeing in a room full of cameras, asking of its nose: “The snot, is that a good thing or stress?”
“It’s ok, he’s drooling out of excitement,” the scientists told him. “And he’s just been fed.”
After being invited to pet the echidna, the Duchess tentatively stroked its spines, which are used to track the animals and monitor their diet.
The scientific research will allow those tackling the illegal wildlife trade to better pinpoint where animals are coming from.
“Oh well done,” said the Duchess, hearing about the research of the four female scientists. “Congratulations, that’s really impressive.”
After the short tour, the Duke and Duchess went to unveil a plaque commentating the opening of a research centre.
The Duke and Duchess were presented with traditional flowers and platypus pins as they opened the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning.
As Finley Blue, four, and Sasha Gallagher, six, presented the bouquets to Meghan, Harry joked “Oh, you’re giving them both to her.”
The Duke spoke of the importance of zoos, telling donors, zoo staff and 20 volunteers aged 13-19 from Youth at the Zoo programme: “Zoos in the 21st century, they have to modernise with everything else that’s going on around them.
“Taronga Zoo seems to be leading the way. Zoos across the world, those that are still going, who have still got the funding, have got a lot to learn from a place like this.”
Before the ribbon cutting, Meghan appeared to realise she was still holding her coat and moved towards an aide to take it as a member of the crowd shouted “I’ll look after it!”
Water Police patrolled Sydney Harbour the Royal couple prepared to visit the zoo.
Police snipers could also be seen on the Sydney Opera House as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex prepared to visit the zoo.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
As Cameron Kerr, director of the Taronga Conservation Socety, gave the couple the platypus pins, which are the logo of the zoo, he spoke of how zoologists originally thought the mammal was “a joke” when it was first brought to the UK.
He said: “When the first people from England came to Australia and sent one back to a British museum, they rejected it and said they are making fun of us. They’ve sown a couple of different animals together.”
Departing, the couple were treated to a ride in a gondola, giving spectacular views over Sydney harbour and allowing a glimpse of other animal enclosures, including a curious baby elephant, below.
After the Duchess changed into flat shoes, they walked the short journey down a ramp and out of the zoo, catching a ferry – made private for the occasion – to the Sydney Opera House surrounded by armed security.
The Duke and Duchess then departed the Zoo and headed on a boat cruise across Sydney Harbour.
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