The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embraced a creative afternoon during their Australian tour, joining a pottery session with the children of veterans at the Australian National Veterans' Art Museum in Melbourne. Following an earlier visit to the Royal Children's Hospital, the couple changed into matching olive green outfits for the Tuesday afternoon engagement.
Creative Engagement with Veterans' Families
Harry and Meghan donned aprons and participated in the pottery class alongside children known as "doves" by the museum. Meghan crafted a clay ostrich during the session, telling the children, "There's an ostrich farm actually not far from our home." When a young girl asked her a question about birds, Meghan deferred to her husband, saying, "My husband will know, my husband knows everything about birds."
Harry's Artistic Contribution
Prince Harry, wearing an olive green shirt, created what he described as "a one-winged kookaburra, it's very rare." The Duke also examined an installation created by artists Kat Rae and Kelly Manning last year, which spelled out "curiosity" using polystyrene, shredded paper, and cable ties.
Fashion and Museum Details
The Duchess wore a mock neck sleeveless sweater by Australian brand P Johnson, complemented by a skirt and bomber jacket from fellow Australian brand St Agni, along with Aquazzura shoes during her tour of the museum. The Australian National Veterans' Art Museum, founded in 2013 by Tanja Johnston, is a veteran-led charity dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of current and former Australian military personnel and their families through artistic expression.
Purpose of the Institution
Established from the "need for innovation and community engagement to address the declining state of veterans' wellbeing," the museum provides a platform for veterans to share their stories through exhibitions, creative programmes, and public engagement. All personnel of the Australian Defence Force swear an oath of allegiance or affirmation to the Australian monarch upon enlistment or commissioning.
Media Attention and Travel Details
The couple was surrounded by media as they left the museum on the first day of their packed Australian visit. Local media reported that Harry and Meghan landed at Melbourne Airport around 6:30 am on Tuesday via a commercial Qantas flight from Los Angeles. Their visit highlights the museum's mission of supporting veteran communities through creative arts programming.
