Diana and Charles down under: Princess Diana and Charles 1983 Australia tour in pictures
PRINCE Harry is following in his mother and father’s footsteps by visiting Australia for his first tour with Meghan Markle. We look back in pictures at the wonderful moments from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s visit to Australia.
Charles and Diana begin Australian Royal Tour in 1983
Just like Meghan, it was Diana’s first tour of Australia as a member of the royal family.
It was the Princess’ first overseas trip at the age of just 22.
Two years after their 1981 fairytale wedding, Charles and Diana landed in Australia to begin their first official international tour, bringing their nine-month-old son Prince William along too.
The Prince and Princess were greeted by an official welcoming party and a cheering crowd of about 2,000 on their arrival in the outback town of Alice Springs from London aboard a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing 707.
The couple kicked off their royal tour in the sleepy town of Alice Springs, where the royals slept in a motel.
The trio visited Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock and Alice Springs, along with visits to Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand.
During that trip, Charles and Diana travelled 23,601 miles and spent 41 days overseas.
Princess Diana looked happy during the entire trip. In fact, the couple appeared loved up.
They even danced at a charity ball in Sydney and were also seen holding hands during their trip.
Diana and Charles aren't the only royal couple to travel down under.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent just over a fortnight in the two countries in April 2014.
They also posed for pictures in front of Ayers rock in a similar spot to where Charles and Diana had stood in 30 years previously.