Prince Harry Follows in Mom Princess Diana's Footsteps During Hospital Visit With Meghan Markle
Like mother, like son. Princess Harry and wife, Meghan Markle, recently visited the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, during a visit to Australia. And while the entire trip was special, this stop had extra significance for the Duke of Sussex.
Harry's royal mum, Princess Diana, and her then-husband Prince Charles (of course, now King Charles) visited the same hospital in 1985. This time around, the staff, patients, and families welcomed the new Duke and Duchess. The royal couple spent time with the children, shaking hands and taking pictures. They also toured the facility before saying their goodbyes.
Is this Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first trip to Australia?
This is the first ‘down under' visit for Harry and Meghan in almost eight years. The couple visited Australia in October 2018 for a 16-day tour, where they first announced Markle's pregnancy (with the pair's first child, son Archie).
When did Princess Diana visit the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne?
Back in October of 1985, Charles was still a prince, and Diana had just given birth to Harry. The young Duke of Sussex was only a year old when his famous parents went on a 13-day tour of Australia.
A trip to a children's hospital wasn't out of the norm for Diana. She was known for her relentless commitment to humanity, taking an early lead in HIV activism and supporting the homeless through her royal charity efforts. In a statement to the British Red Cross, Activenture Camp (a program in East Sussex for children with disabilities) youth officer Barbara Summerfield said of the Princess, "What went down well, more than anything else, was that Diana was a real person who the children could talk to."
British Red Cross president for Greater Manchester, Edith Conn, added, "When she spoke to you, she looked directly at you…You felt as though she was really very interested in what you did and what you had to say." And of course, Prince Harry wants to follow in his mother's footsteps. But it looks like the current Duke of Sussex has some pretty big shoes to fill.
In 2022, Prince Harry spoke to People Magazine, opening up about his mother and sharing, "I certainly hope and believe everything I do makes her proud." He went on to add, "I honor my mother in everything I do. I am my mother's son."
Based on the responses to his latest tour, Prince Harry's fans already think he's living up to his mother's memory. When People recently posted pics of the couple's trip on Instagram, some critics slammed the pair for seeking out the spotlight. But others had a softer view, with one commenter writing, "Diana used to bring William and Harry to hospitals and homeless shelters, showing them that there are other people that are more important than royals. He is visiting a children's hospital and a veteran's museum, showing his respect and compassion for people."
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 2:09 PM.