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The Western Bulldogs were taken by surprise upon hearing the news that Prince Harry would be visiting them on Wednesday. The royal’s choice to meet with the club stems from its association with a charity that holds significant importance for him.
The Duke of Sussex is scheduled to appear at the Bulldogs’ headquarters, located at Whitten Oval in Melbourne’s western suburbs. His visit is in recognition of the club’s partnership with the Movember charity, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for men’s health issues.
Bulldogs CEO, Ameet Bains, admitted that the club initially questioned the news of the royal visit, wondering if there had been a mix-up.
“We asked ourselves, have we got the right person here?” Bains remarked.
During a staff meeting called to announce the Duke’s upcoming visit, the news was met with audible gasps from the audience, reflecting their astonishment and excitement.
Prince Harry (pictured with wife Meghan in Melbourne on Tuesday) is paying a visit to one of the AFL’s most working-class teams
The Duke will head to the Western Bulldogs’ home in Melbourne’s west on Wednesday because the team is involved with a charity that’s close to his heart (pictured, Dogs star Marcus Bontempelli)
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The club’s headquarters at Whitten Oval (pictured) is far from the most glamorous facility in the AFL, and the club’s CEO has admitted the team was in ‘disbelief’ when they learned about the high-profile visit
‘They all know who he is. There’s definitely a level of intrigue in some quarters and excitement in others.’Â Â
Harry’s wife Meghan will not be attending the event, which sent a ripple of disappointment through the team.
‘I think a lot of our staff watch Suits, so that would have been fun,’ Bains said, referring to the TV show Meghan used to star in.
Harry is well known for his advocacy for men’s health, and his visit will coincide with the release of Movember’s new national research report.
‘Our community foundation does a lot in the men’s health space, primarily through Sons of the West, and we’ve had a partnership with Movember for a few years now,’ Bains explained.
‘It’s a private, invitation-only event where that report will be launched with Prince Harry as part of the launch.’Â
Footy fans who are unaware of the Dogs’ ties to the charity would be surprised by the royal’s choice of club for the visit.
Many would assume he’d be more likely to visit one of the more glamorous teams in the league while he’s in Melbourne, like Collingwood.
Harry (pictured in Melbourne with Meghan) will be with the Dogs for the launch of the Movember charity’s new report
The Duke’s passion for men’s health is behind his attendance with the Dogs. Most fans would’ve expected a more glamorous club like Collingwood to be at the front of the queue for a visit from the royal
Dogs CEOÂ Ameet Bains (pictured) revealed there were gasps in the audience when news of Harry’s appearance was revealed to the team
The Dogs are solidly working-class, and they like to trumpet it.
‘We are proud and protective of our history as a club that’s championed the west of Melbourne and have that blue-collar history and heritage,’ Bains said.
‘But we are also a club that’s very ambitious in what we do, and the ability to show off Whitten Oval is also pretty exciting.’
The trip to Dogs headquarters isn’t the only footy-based outing the Duke has planned for this tour.
He and Meghan are also scheduled to attend the NSW Waratahs vs Pasifika Moana rugby union clash at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
In stark contrast to the trip to Melbourne’s west, they’ll be entertained in a private box at the nearly brand-new boutique stadium in Sydney’s flashy east, where they’ll sit with Rugby Australia CEO and former Wallabies star Phil Waugh.
The visit marks Harry and Meghan’s first trip Down Under since 2018, when they spent nine days travelling across Australia.
Excited crowds gathered to greet the pair on Tuesday, meeting families and youngsters packed inside the foyer at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
After the hospital, the duke and duchess toured a centre delivering support to women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness, before visiting the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum.Â