Prince Charles reunited with fan who stole a kiss
- Published
The Prince of Wales has been reunited with a woman who managed to steal a kiss from him nearly 40 years ago.
In 1979, Leila Sherwood made headlines as a 14-year-old when she kissed the young prince on the cheek at Cairns Airport.
Another woman, named after the Queen, burst into tears on meeting her son.
Prince Charles attended a church service and ventured into the rainforest, as his week-long tour in Australia continued.
Ms Sherwood waited outside the St John the Evangelist Church on Sunday, to meet the prince again.
The 54-year-old showed him a newspaper clipping from four decades ago, as the prince left the Sunday service
She said: "He held my hand and said 'bless you' - I didn't want to let go of his hand!"
Also waiting for a royal greeting was Elizabeth Kulla Kulla, an Aboriginal woman named after Queen Elizabeth.
Ms Kulla Kulla became overwhelmed with emotion as the prince shook her hand.
The prince then travelled into Australia's Daintree Rainforest where he met the Kuku Yalanji aboriginals.
He was shown a handmade hunting boomerang and took part in a traditional smoking ceremony, said to help ward off evil spirits, before joining a discussion on sustainable forestry.
Also on the itinerary was a visit to the Cairns base of the Royal Flying Doctors service, which provide medical help to rural communities.
"I'm very proud to be patron of the Flying Doctors. It's a remarkable operation," he said.
The heir apparent has had a busy week in Australia, which has seen him open the Commonwealth Games, be made an honorary high chief and joke about his upcoming 70th birthday.
"I do know only too well... the strange feeling of disbelief that this is actually happening and that never again, for instance, will it be possible to squeeze into a pair of budgie smugglers," he told a reception in Brisbane.
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