The Duke of Sussex visited the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra, where he honored fallen soldiers by laying a wreath during a brief stop in the capital city.

During his visit, Prince Harry engaged with several Indigenous veterans and participated in a traditional smoking ceremony conducted by Ngunnawal Gomeroi elder Michael Bell.

In his Welcome to Country address, Mr. Bell highlighted the meaning behind the For our Country memorial, describing it as a “yarning and learning circle” designed to encompass a fire. He stated, “We’ve provided a place to commemorate,” and emphasized that the uneven rock signifies the challenging path faced by service members throughout periods when they were historically excluded from military participation.

The Duke took a moment of reflection at the memorial before conversing with representatives associated with the site. He plans to remain at the AWM for the afternoon and is scheduled to speak at an Invictus Australia event following his attendance at a Last Post ceremony.

Numerous residents of Canberra gathered at the memorial grounds to catch a glimpse of the Duke during his visit. This trip to Canberra is part of a whirlwind tour that includes additional engagements in Melbourne on Thursday.

Traveling solo, Prince Harry took a commercial Qantas flight to Canberra, without his wife, Meghan Markle. He occupied a front-row seat on the flight, and reports indicated that the cabin crew was surprised to discover his presence on board.

Prior to this visit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had already made appearances at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital and a women’s shelter, and this morning, Prince Harry met with members of the Western Bulldogs AFL team for a Movember event.

This marks the first visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Australia since 2018, and it is also their first trip since they officially separated themselves from royal duties.