Prince Harry drops in for a chat
He is one of the most famous men in the world but to locals in the remote Aboriginal community of Wuggubun Prince Harry is "just a nice bloke".
The popular Prince made a surprise visit yesterday to the tiny community, 65km from Kununurra in WA's far north, creating a stir among its 25 residents.
"We weren't expecting it at all. It was just a usual day and then about seven cars just rocked up out of nowhere with a couple of army vehicles. It was amazing," local resident Shaun Cox said.
Wyatt Cox is up close and personal. Picture: Supplied
Mr Cox said a relaxed, friendly Prince Harry spent about 90 minutes chatting to residents and asking questions about the community before visiting a nearby creek and kicking a football.
"He asked how many people live out here and how we run things, and he was playing with all of the kids, picking them up and posing for photos," he said.
"I think the younger ones didn't really realise who he was, though."
The top-secret visit soon became the talk of the Kimberley.
... with more of the locals. Picture: Supplied
Mr Cox, who took dozens of photos of his friends and family with Prince Harry, quickly went into Kununurra to have them developed.
"You got to show them off. It's not every day you get to see a prince," he said.
Rumours Prince Harry was in the Kimberley began circulating on Tuesday when a Royal Australian Air Force plane was spotted at Kununurra Airport.
It is understood the fourth, soon-to-be fifth, in line to the British throne was guided around the region by local NORFORCE army reservists.
He travelled to WA after joining patrols with Aboriginal soldiers in Darwin, as part of his month-long secondment with the Australian Army.
This came after his only public engagement on Monday, when he was greeted by 1500 wellwishers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
The Prince will train with the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth during his month-long stay before he retires from the British Army in June.
