Britain's Prince Harry receives a royal salute from the honor guard at Garden Island Naval base in Sydney.
Britain's Prince Harry chatted and shook hands with a throng of excited fans on the Sydney waterfront on Saturday as thousands celebrated the centenary of the fledgling Australian navy fleet's first visit to the city's famed harbour.
He moved frenetically across the surging crowd in The Rocks region of downtown Sydney, conversing with the public, taking outstretched hands and waving to those who were out of reach.
Scores of cameras and cell phones captured up close the prince's only scheduled meeting with the public during his first visit to Australia officially representing his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The fourth in line to the throne had earlier coasted past the Sydney Opera House on board the
Australian navy's survey ship HMAS Leeuwin, one of dozens of warships from 17 nations on the sun-dappled harbour this weekend for the International Fleet Review.
The review, essentially a parade of ships, commemorates the arrival of the original Royal Australian Navy fleet a century ago.
Following a 100-gun salute, Governor-General Quentin Bryce, who represents Australia's head of state, the Queen, joined Harry on board the Leeuwin to officially review the ships.
The prince had changed from a crisp white army dress uniform to a gray suit and blue tie to meet the public.
From The Rocks, he took a civilian boat across the harbour to Kirribilli House, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's official Sydney residence.
Harry posed for photographs with Abbott, his wife Margie, and two of their three daughters, Frances and Bridget, on the grounds of the historic mansion before again shaking hands with the public at a front gate.
He will watch a light show and massive fireworks display over the harbour on Saturday night from Kirribilli House while attending a reception.
The show will ignite more than 7 metric tons (7.7 tons) of fireworks and is expected to draw 1.4 million spectators.
Harry is in Australia's largest city for just one day as part of a quick trip Down Under. The prince flies to the Western Australia capital, Perth, on Sunday morning for a brief visit before leaving the country.
Australia's first navy fleet of seven cruisers and destroyers entered Sydney's harbour for the first time on Oct. 4, 1913.
About 40 warships, 16 tall ships and 8,000 sailors are participating in this weekend's celebrations.
The participating warships are from the U.S., China, Britain, Brunei, Micronesia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and Tonga.