Prince Harry and wife Meghan have been welcomed to Melbourne by overjoyed kids as they marked the first stop of their whirlwind trip to Australia.

The couple will visit Sydney and Canberra over the next four days on the unofficial visit, with their first stop a trip to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where they were greeted by an enormous crowd.

One overjoyed four-year-old patient, named Lily, greeted the Sussexes with a handmade welcome sign and presented the duchess with a flower and a hug.

Meghan had a sleek ponytail and donned a navy blue belted dress as she and the Duke of Sussex waved to the crowd of excited fans and patients of the hospital.

The former Royal couple spent the morning meeting patients and hospital staff, taking photos with the public as they kicked off their short trip to the state’s capital.

Some children were armed with artwork, others handing over toys and mementos for the Duke and Duchess, who couldn’t contain their smiles as they met with the children and hospital staff.

The duke and duchess then participated in a garden therapy session in which the duke was asked if he would take a gum tree home. Prince Harry The former royal joked he “would, but I think I’d probably get arrested at some point”.

See the pictures of their first day in Australia.