There were cuddly toys and real animals to greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their first day in Australia.

The couple, who announced they are expecting a baby as they arrived in Sydney, were warmly welcomed with a series of events in the city, including visits to Taronga Zoo and the Sydney Opera House.

Royal tour of Australia – Day One
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex watch a performance by the Bangarra Dance Company at the Sydney Opera House (Ian Vogler/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
The dance show raised some royal eyebrows (Ian Vogler/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
With a spirited performance by one shirtless man (Ian Vogler/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
Meghan meets an echidna during a visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
Harry was keen to reacquaint himself with a koala as he’s visited Australia before (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
It is Meghan’s first visit to Australia (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex receive native flowers from Finley Blue and Dasha Gallagher (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
The couple are on a Pacific tour until October 31 (Phil Noble/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
Meghan wore an ivory Karen Gee dress with earrings and a bracelet which belonged to the duke’s mother, Diana (Phil Noble/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
Crowds had waited for hours to see the royal couple (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
They spent more than the allotted 20 minutes greeting crowds in the sunshine (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
Meghan during a walkabout outside the Sydney Opera House (Dominic Lipinski
Royal tour of Australia – Day One
And Meghan was keen to shake hands and chat to the Australians who wanted to meet her (Dominic Lipinski/PA)