Hundreds of screaming girls turned out on the steps of the Sydney Opera House today as Prince Harry said goodbye to Australia.
The prince, who has been on a month-long secondment to the Australian Defence Force, was greeted by fans holding up “Marry Me, Harry!” signs.
One admirer, Victoria McRae, 21, managed to steal a kiss, delivering what she said was her third marriage proposal to the royal visitor.
The care student, from Dee Why on Sydney’s northern beaches, said: “He stopped when he saw my request. I told him it was my third time of asking — one to him during his recent visit for the Fleet Review and once when I met his brother William, who promised to pass my proposal on.
“Harry said he didn’t get that message, so there was a breakdown in communications.”
On receiving her proposal, the prince replied: “Can I think about it?”
A local schoolgirl called Lily, 17, and a group of classmates from nearby St Vincent’s High School shouted: “Harry — you are hotter than Harry Styles.”
Earlier the prince, 30, wound up his secondment by taking part in an anti-terrorism military exercise on Sydney Harbour.
After the walkabout at the Opera House, he was driven north to the Macquarie University Clinic.
He met Iraqi refugee and world-leading orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis, who is pioneering new treatments for injured war veterans in hip, knee, leg and trauma surgery.
Harry also met British Lieutenant Ali Spearing, who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Engineers in 2011 and has undergone surgery to have prosthetic legs fitted.
The prince said: “These guys are learning constantly. But he is over the moon and thrilled to bits to be up and walking again on a new set of legs.
“I think what they’re doing here is absolutely amazing. I think it’s the way forward for single amputees and double amputees above the knee.”
The prince said he was trying to arrange for the world-leading doctor to come to Britain. Harry, who is leaving the Army to spend a summer working with conservation groups in Africa, said his spell Down Under was “an amazing way to finish my career”.
He added: “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity I’ve had to work with these guys, and share my knowledge from back home and learn a hell of a lot.”
Prince Harry heads to New Zealand tomorrow. It will be another week before he flies back to England, where he will finally meet his new niece, Princess Charlotte.
