By Bonny Burrows
Prince Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle may be headed to Cardinia Shire, 35 years after the prince’s parents made the trip.
Cardinia’s mayor Councillor Collin Ross has officially invited the soon-to-be-married couple to visit Cardinia Shire later this year when they are in Melbourne for a polo match.
It’s ambitious, but the shire’s longest serving councillor is optimistic the pair will make the trip during the 35th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, like Harry’s parents before him.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles descended on Cockatoo in March 1983 and planted a memorial tree just six days after fire ripped through the area.
The mayor remembers how uplifting the royal couple’s visit to the hills was, and believes Prince Harry would be keen to walk in the footsteps of his mother.
Such visit, he said, would shine an international light on the tragedy that was the Ash Wednesday bushfires while bringing “a really big audience” to Cardinia Shire.
Cr Ross believes, thanks to the timing, the odds are at 10 to one for a royal visit.
“There’s been talk of a honeymoon in Australia and this is a little bit special. Harry’s mum and dad visited Cockatoo just after they were married,” Cr Ross said.
Knowing he had just one year to get the couple here during his mayoral term, Cr Ross said he set to work straight away.
“I rang the governor’s office as soon as I became mayor,” he said.
“The best I could do is find a contact for a media adviser for Will and Harry.”
He made that nerve-racking call one Tuesday morning 10.30am London time while sitting in his driveway.
A voice on the other line answered after two rings with “Buckingham Palace can I help you?”, and after taking a moment to compose himself, the mayor told the adviser “there was some very special things happening in the shire”, including the 150th year of local government and 50 years of the shire of Pakenham.
“My wife didn’t believe me, I had to show her the phone records,” Cr Ross said.
Following the call, he drafted an official letter to the Prince, which was giving the tick of approval by his fellow councillors.
The mayor is yet to hear back, however “the fact that they haven’t replied yet, I’m encouraged by.”
“It indicates it’s in the mix,” he said.
