Harry Recalls Queen Elizabeth’s Savage Remark About Australia as He Kicks Off Events Down Under
Reflecting warmly on a 2013 trip to Australia, Prince Harry couldn't resist paying a nod to the late Queen's quintessential British humor.
On the first day of his visit to Australia on April 14, Prince Harry fondly reminisced about his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. As he and Meghan Markle met families of veterans at the Australian National Veterans Art Museum in Melbourne, he was introduced to Kat Baldwin, who reminded him of their 2013 meeting in the country. Reflecting warmly on that trip, the Duke of Sussex couldn't resist sharing one of his grandmother's trademark dry quips, paying a nod to her quintessential British humor.
During their visit to support the well-being of veterans through the arts, Harry and Markle were introduced to Baldwin, who is the museum's director. As reported by Sky News, when she remembered crossing paths with the Prince during his first official visit 13 years ago, Harry said, "That was my shortest trip to Australia." Sharing a funny anecdote about the Queen's view of the trip, he added, "My grandmother said to me, 'Will you go and do the fleet review?' and I said, 'Absolutely!' And then she goes, 'Oh, it's in Australia,'" before joking: "Oh great, let's go!"
The late Queen's trademark British humor is no stranger to Harry, who had always been close to her, reportedly even after his royal exit. She was likely referring to her grandson's grueling journey to the country and taking long engagements for her, which he did not interpret. The Duke, who was 29 at the time, attended the International Fleet Review on Sydney Harbour in October 2013 to review 40 warships from 17 countries. He also took part in naval ceremonies, attended official receptions, and met members of the Australian Defence Force. He had visited the country for two days for the commemoration of the Royal Australian Navy's centenary.
For her part, the Queen has always spoken highly of Australia, often expressing her best wishes and admiration. According to the Royal Family's website, during her 1954 tour speech, she famously said she felt "a part of Australia," reflecting her deep connection with its people. "I am proud indeed to be at the head of a nation that has achieved so much." Over the years, she praised the people's grit and resilience, calling the country "a land of optimism and strength." She has visited Australia 16 times during her reign, with a whopping 70–75% of Australians coming to see her during the 1954 tour.
And as for Harry's meaningful time with the veterans, he interacted with their families, listened to their experiences, and emphasized the role of creative expression in healing, especially as many servicemen and women struggle with PTSD. He also joined a pottery session with children, joking around with them while creating a clay figure. Markle kept the mood light, helping the children create a clay ostrich. The visit underscored their continued commitment to supporting veterans' wellbeing, building connections, and promoting rehabilitation, just like Harry continues to do so with the Invictus Games.
