Prince Harry honours fallen SAS soldiers

Prince Harry has waved goodbye to Sydney following his visit for the International Fleet Review. Source: AAP

PRINCE Harry has honoured fallen SAS soldiers, and comforted their families, as he completed his whirlwind tour of Australia with a brief stopover in Western Australia.

After the fleet and fireworks in Sydney on Saturday, the 29-year-old Prince made his first visit to WA accompanied by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, with his day taken up mostly with a visit to the home of the SAS at the Campbell Barracks in the coastal suburb of Swanbourne.

A quick wardrobe change saw him ditch the dark-blue navy suit he arrived in to don combat fatigues for his meeting with the SAS troops, who have been based in Swanbourne since 1957.

Once there, he met past and present members of the unit, toured the base and joined families of fallen SAS members killed in the line of duty to lay wreaths in their memory.

The commanding officer of the SASR, who is known only as Lieutenant Colonel G to protect his identity, said the prince's visit was an honour and a privilege.

"Prince Harry knows what it means to serve his nation on operations and most importantly what it means to the families of those serving," Lieutenant Colonel G said.

"Families play a critical role for those serving in the SASR and indeed the whole of the ADF, and we are thankful that the families of some of our serving, former and fallen members were able to be here today."

As well as special forces, surfing spots were on Prince Harry's mind during an earlier meeting with WA premier Colin Barnett and his wife Lyn, both avowed royalists.

And landing from Sydney, the premier and the prince spent 30 minutes discussing the state and it's attractions - with the best surfing spot high on the prince's agenda.

"He said it was a short visit because he had to be back to work on Thursday - a delightful young man, full of energy and enthusiastic," Mr Barnett said.

"His query was where is the best surfing spot ... I should have said Cottesloe (where Mr Barnett lives) but I told him Margaret River. He showed close interest in the state and I am sure he would like to have a closer look around in the future."

Despite no official public functions for the prince in WA, a small crowd of well-wishers did gather at the airport to greet the royal, along with a troop of photographers and a helicopter from a local TV network.

Before his departure from Sydney, Prince Harry told reporters Australia already felt like a second home and he was very sad to be leaving.

"I just can't get the time off work these days," he said.

The prince will leave Perth later on Sunday evening en route to Dubai, where he is scheduled to attend the Sentebale 'Forget Me Not' ball on Monday.

Prince Harry was a co-founder of Sentebale - a charity set up to help vulnerable children.

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