Prince Harry meets a lot of people each year through the events that he attends and the charity organizations he supports. And while he’s very busy carrying out tasks under the Crown, he makes sure to spend time with his fans.
When people learn that the prince is coming to town, some of them go to great extremes to see him in person. The lucky ones may get to shake his hand or receive a kiss on the cheek.
One woman spent seven hours waiting in the rain so she could meet one of her favorite members of the royalty. She first met him two years earlier and hoped he would remember her.
The prince was visiting Sydney, Australia, to promote the Invictus Games. While he was touring Sydney Harbor, Daphne Dunne, a 97-year-old widow, patiently waited with throngs of other fans.
The prince slowly maneuvered himself through the crowd to greet people when he spotted Daphne. She had nothing to fear because he recognized her right away. He immediately reached out to her.
Daphne first met the prince when he was working with the Australian Defense Force and stopped at the Sydney Opera House. He picked Daphne out of the crowd because she was wearing numerous military medals. One in particular, the Victoria Cross, stood out.
Daphne is a veteran of the Australian Women’s Army service. She explained to the prince how her first husband, who died at the age of 24 during World War II, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. They had only been married for one year when he passed away.
Daphne wears the medals to to honor the memory of her husband, Albert Chowne. She often puts them on for events supporting those involved in the service. When the prince met her the first time, he gave her a kiss on the cheek. He repeated the gesture the second time around. Daphne told reporters:
“He remembered me. And gave me another kiss on the other side.”
The prince spent a few moments chatting with Daphne and giving her a big hug.
Like many around the world, Daphne respects the prince’s dedication to veterans and members of the military. He developed the Invictus Games in 2014, which allows wounded, injured, or sick armed services personnel to compete in various sporting events.
Sydney, Australia, will be hosting the event in 2018. There’s no doubt that Daphne will make a concerted effort to see the prince again. The third time’s the charm!
Watch the pair’s sweet reunion in the video below: