When news broke that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were going to include Dubbo on a planned royal tour of Australia, many people decided to travel from across Australia to attend.

Mount Rankin woman Christine Smith was among the estimated 10,000 people who flocked to Victoria Park in Dubbo on October 17 which was the only public site for people to see the royal couple.

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“I was the first to arrive at Victoria Park in Dubbo. I left Mount Rankin at 1.30am and arrived at 3.50am at Victoria Park,” she said.

“I immediately made friends with those diehard fans who turned up after me, at 5am.”

By 7am Ms Smith, along with the others who had gathered ahead of the planned royal appearance at 11.30am, had secured their spots along the fence to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meghan.

There may have been hours of waiting ahead for these keen royal fans, but many media outlets including Fairfax Media, were also there early to capture the sights and sounds of the event.

“There were media personalities of all descriptions – Annabel Crabb from ABC News; Chris Reason and Sylvia Jeffreys from Today and Edwina Bartholomew from Sunrise and plenty more,” Ms Smith said.

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“I caught up with Ben Shields, mayor of Dubbo, and was standing right beside Sylvia during much of her live crosses to the Today studio with Karl Stefanovic.”

By the time Harry and Meghan arrived at Victoria Park, after a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and a nearby farm, the dark storm clouds were gathering.

“As they stepped out of their car, the heavens opened up. It truly was a gift,” Ms Smith said referring to the region’s long-running drought.

“HRH Prince Harry then took to the stage with his lovely wife, Meghan Markle.

“Prince Harry took his place under Meghan’s umbrella and addressed the crowd regarding mental health.

“I have found on numerous occasions Prince Harry has waved away umbrellas, I even heard him say ‘if those chaps on the parade ground don’t get one, I don’t want one’. Just like his comrades he stood in the pouring rain not wanting to be treated special because of who he is.

“So the moment Meghan put the umbrella over him and he did not wave it away bought tears to my eyes.”

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This was not the fist royal sighting for Ms Smith who has already photographed others during recent years.

“I captured his [Harry’s] brother HRH Prince William and Princess Kate at Echo Point, Katoomba; then again a few days later at Taronga Zoo in Sydney,” she said.

“I managed to capture HRH Prince Charles at Canberra with his wife Camilla on Remembrance Day.

“I also captured HRH Prince Harry at Canberra’s War Memorial during his army service here in Australia.”