Brigade of fans for Capt. Wales
Australians have shown they are wild about Prince Harry during the royal heir's sole public engagement as he begins a month-long deployment alongside local Diggers.
Wet weather in Canberra failed to dampen the spirits of 1500 wellwishers as they greeted the fourth in line to the throne at the Australian War Memorial just hours after his arrival on a commercial flight from England.
Looking sharp and every inch the soldier in his white No. 1 dress uniform of the Household Cavalry, Prince Harry was welcomed by a burst of clapping and cheering from the crowd as he was introduced to Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Defence Force chief Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin and memorial director Brendan Nelson.
Prince Harry, or Capt. Wales as he is known in the army, laid a wreath of native Australian flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before touring the World War I and Afghanistan galleries.
The Prince was given a box made of timber from the memorial's "Lone Pine" tree, with medallions marking the centenary of the Gallipoli landings inside - a gift he called "incredible".
He also received a signed copy of Lee Kernaghan's Spirit of the Anzacs album and a memorial cap.
Prince Harry shook hands with dozens of people as they lined the barricades, although he told one girl "selfies are bad" when he knocked back a request for a photo. "I hate selfies," he grinned cheekily.
Canberra boy Ethan Toscan, 12, caught the Prince's eye just as he was about to depart with his hand-painted sign saying "Red Heads Rule". "It was just a pleasure to shake Prince Harry's hand," Ethan said.
Another keen to meet the bachelor prince was Emma Hogan.
"I was hoping for a proposal but it's all right - he gave me a sympathy handshake," she said. "I looked sad as he walked off so he thought I better shake your hand."
Afterwards, Prince Harry reported for duty at Duntroon, where he gave Air Chief Marshal Binskin a message from the Queen.
The Queen wrote she was "delighted" by her grandson's secondment as a sign of the long and enduring partnership between the Australian and British militaries.
"In 2015, when together we commemorate the many sacrifices of our countrymen at Gallipoli a century ago, it is fitting that we can also reflect on the strength and persistence today of those common values and our professional military ties," she wrote. "I know that Capt. Wales will benefit greatly from spending time with the Australian Diggers and I thank you for welcoming him into your ranks."
Prince Harry left Canberra late yesterday for Darwin, where he will join patrols with Aboriginal soldiers.
The Prince will train with the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth during his stay. He will retire from the British Army in June.
