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Royal couple honors Bondi attack survivors and responders
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent Friday morning in Sydney meeting survivors and emergency workers from the December Bondi Beach shooting that left 15 dead and 40 injured.
Survivor accounts and lifeguard tributes
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club, where they spoke with Jessica Chapnik Khan and Elon Zizer, who shielded their children during the attack.
Lifeguards praised as heroes for protecting civilians during the rampage also shared their experiences with the couple.
Representatives from the Sydney Jewish Museum, which is preparing an exhibition about the attack, called the visit "really special."
Public reception and Invictus Australia event
Later, crowds gathered at the Sydney Opera House to welcome the couple before they boarded a boat for a sailing event organized by Invictus Australia, an adaptive sports program for wounded veterans.
Veteran Joel Vanderzwan presented Harry and Meghan with custom flip-flops bearing the messages "G'day Hazza" and "G'day Megs." Harry quipped that he usually receives "budgie smugglers" from the organization.
The couple sailed on a wheelchair-accessible vessel, continuing their long-standing support for injured military personnel.
Return to Australia marks full-circle moment
This is the couple's first trip to Australia since their 2018 royal tour, during which Harry announced Sydney would host the Invictus Games-a competition he founded in 2014 for wounded veterans.
Michael Hartung, CEO of Invictus Australia, described their return to Sydney Harbour as a "full-circle moment."
The visit is private, as Harry and Meghan no longer serve as working royals.
Meghan to host exclusive women's retreat
Later Friday, Meghan will appear at a women-only weekend retreat at a Sydney hotel, with tickets starting at A$2,699 (£1,430) per person.
A VIP ticket priced at A$3,199 (£1,696) includes a group photo with her.
The 300-person event is organized by the Her Best Life podcast, co-founded by Gemma O'Neill and Australian celebrity Jackie Henderson.
