Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sweet Surprise for Their Biggest Fan on Her 99th Birthday

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Published on
March 30, 2019

There are fans of the Royals and there are superfans — and for one elderly superfan of Prince Harry, her adoration of the Royals didn’t go unnoticed by the prince and Meghan Markle on the occasion of her 99th birthday. Find out their sweet surprise!

Prince Harry with fan Daphne Dunne at Sydney Opera House in Australia in 2018
Prince Harry and Daphne Dunne | Paul Edwards – Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry’s superfan has met him on multiple occasions

Daphne Dunne of Australia has had several meetings with Prince Harry over the years, first in 2015 and then again in 2017, where she waited in the pouring rain just to see him. Dunne had been wearing her late husband’s war medals, including the Victoria Cross, which caught Harry’s eye and he approached her to find out more. On both occasions, the two shared a kiss and a hug.

In 2018, Prince Harry introduced his wife, Meghan Markle, to Dunne and she was won over by the duchess as well. Harry and Markle met with Dunne outside the Sydney Opera House, which they visited during a tour that included Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga.

Markle told her at the time: “’Oh my goodness, is this Daphne?  I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Dunne and Markle became fast friends

Already a Prince Harry fan, Dunne’s interaction with Markle was quite sweet as well, as she congratulated the Duchess of Sussex at the time on the recent news of her pregnancy. She told the couple: “It’s wonderful, the two of you. Congratulations, it’s just what Harry needs.”

She added: “He will be a marvelous dad. He won’t let anything stand in his way and he will be so gentle and loving.”

Prince Harry also took notice of something different about Dunne at the time, asking her: “Have you dyed your hair a shade of pink?,” to which she answered, “yes.”

Dunne was instantly smitten with Markle, telling AAP after their meeting: “She said she had heard all about me, she’s so beautiful.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised Dunne

Dunne just turned 99 on Friday and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised her with a special birthday greeting. Australia’s Today Show gave Dunne the special message, after a friend let Harry know that her 99th birthday was coming up.

A letter from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex read: “Dear Daphne, My wife and I send our warmest wishes to you on the occasion of your 99th birthday on Friday. We hope you have a wonderful celebration surrounded by family and friends and that you’ve managed to escape hospital. Congratulations on reaching this important and impressive milestone before your centenary year next year. Happy birthday, Daphne.”

The letter was signed: “Best wishes, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

The birthday note lifted Dunne’s spirits

Dunne’s daughter remarked how this sweet gesture was a great boost to her mom, who is suffering from an illness, noting: “Meghan and Harry have gotten mum through this terrible illness she’s had. She’s still very unwell and I think the card they’ve sent means so much. I think it will be the thing that gets her through.”