Harry and Meghan join Aboriginal walking tour in Melbourne

Harry and Meghan Join Aboriginal Walking Tour in Melbourne

During their third day in Australia, Prince Harry and Meghan participated in a cultural experience that explored the heritage of First Nations Australians in Melbourne. The couple joined an Indigenous-led walking tour named the Scar Tree Walk, which highlights a significant historical site in the city. Guided by local Aboriginal interpreters, they traversed the Birrarung, the traditional name for the Yarra River, as part of the journey.

Now traveling without royal duties, the former royals are engaging in a mix of philanthropy and personal ventures across the country. The tour began at the Koorie Heritage Trust in Federation Square, where the pair interacted with a Marngrook—a traditional possum-fur ball believed to have inspired the design of the Australian Rules Football (AFL) oval. On Wednesday, Harry had previously attended a session with AFL players to learn the sport.

“The fact that the Duke yesterday was at a football club, I think it’s a really great connection,” said Tom Mosby, CEO of the Koorie Heritage Trust, reflecting on the pair’s activities.

Along the route, the couple viewed an art exhibit and gained insight into how the river and its surrounding areas were traditionally used for fishing and hunting. Mosby emphasized that the tour aimed to reveal the deeper history beneath Melbourne’s modern facade. “Melbourne is a contemporary urban place, but at the same time, there is still a very strong connection by the Aboriginal people to this traditional country,” he noted.

The pair also expressed interest in Victoria’s ongoing Treaty process, which recently culminated in the state’s first formal agreement with traditional owners in 2025. Several locals and tourists had the chance to encounter them during the walk. A Brazilian visitor, attending a wedding in Melbourne, spotted the couple while jogging along the river. “It was so nice,” she remarked. “They are the most gorgeous couple.”

Narelle Zagami, a local resident, joined the group to meet the couple. “It’s very emotional. I love Harry. They are just beautiful people,” she shared. When asked about critics who questioned their financial pursuits during the trip, Zagami defended their approach. “They’ve got to make a living as well. It’s part of their life now, this sort of thing, so I think it’s good,” she added.

Another supporter, Vita Benic, echoed similar sentiments. She recalled meeting Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, during their 1983 visit and wanted to pay tribute to Harry and Meghan’s family values. “They’re the epitome of what a family should be,” Benic said, handing the couple children’s colouring books for their son Archie and daughter Lilibet.

Harry’s visit included a speech at the launch of a fatherhood mental health report, where he shared personal reflections on parenthood. He described children as an “upgrade” of their fathers. Meanwhile, Meghan filmed an episode for the new season of MasterChef Australia, set to air as a guest judge on Sunday.