Prince Harry steps in during Melbourne walk amid press scrum
Prince Harry intervened during a public appearance in Melbourne after a reporter attempted to approach him and Meghan Markle for a selfie, according to reporting from Australia’s day three coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour.
During the Scar Tree Walk along the Yarra River, Express reported that Channel 7 reporter Paul Dowsley tried to snap a selfie with the couple and that Prince Harry appeared to nudge him out of Meghan’s way.
The report said the walk, described as lasting a little over half an hour, drew crowds of well-wishers and a heavy media presence, including photographers and video journalists, while a helicopter was seen overhead. It added that five police officers arrived as the number of media surrounding the couple grew during the sunny morning engagement.
In comments attributed to Mr Dowsley, he said he “broke protocol” by asking for a selfie, adding: “I suppose it’s a break in protocol to ask for a selfie with a royal, but he told me that I’m always so well-dressed.” The same report described earlier interactions between Mr Dowsley and the Sussexes’ communications director, Mr Liam Maguire, as friendly, and said the Duke had previously complimented the reporter’s tie choice.
The Melbourne moment comes as attention continues to follow the Sussexes’ Australia itinerary, with Britpop News previously reporting claims that the couple were accused of acting like royal “heirs” during the trip.
The incident underlined how closely managed public walkabouts can become when large crowds and press packs gather quickly, particularly during high-profile overseas engagements involving senior royals and their security teams.
