Father of five-year-old Charlotte, Chris Ruming said his daughter’s royal-obsession began when she realised she had the same name as Princess Charlotte. 

Mr Ruming said her obsession turned during Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding. 

“We went back home to Dubbo for a weekend during the royal wedding and mum dressed her up and she sat there and watched the whole thing,” Mr Ruming said.

“Now she’s absolutely obsessed with Harry and Meghan. Not so much Princess Charlotte now, it’s all Prince Harry and Meghan.”

Mr Ruming said for Charlotte, characters like Peppa Pig, fairies, Disney princesses or Barbie, “just don’t stand a chance anymore”. 

“When I heard about the royal visit coming to Dubbo, I thought ‘that’s not real, that’s fake news’,” Mr Ruming said.

“The next day I realised it was real, and I thought this will be massive for her, I rang my employer straight away and said I need some annual leave.

“When I broke the news to her, I was stringing it out, saying we might go back to Dubbo for a holiday and I mentioned they were going out there. 

“She was over the moon.”

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Mr Ruming said Charlotte’s obsession wasn’t matched by her peers.

“She’s not like any other kid, no one else in her class seems to know about it. She went to school to tell teachers and friends she was going to Dubbo, the teachers were excited but the other kids have no idea,” Mr Ruming said.

“Because she’s so young, she kept asking are they coming to nanny and poppy’s house [in Dubbo]?, I had to explain there would be so many people we will have to wait in line.

“When the story was on the news again, as soon as she heard Dubbo, you could see the big excitement in her eyes.” 

Mr Ruming said they were counting down the days until they arrive in Dubbo. 

“Everyday she’ll keep asking, are they still going ? Are they still going to go there?”

Mr Ruming said the “whole trip is for her” and reminds him of what it was like as a young boy in Dubbo during the Queen’s visit in 1992.

“Another reason I want to do it for Charlotte is because when the Queen came to Dubbo, I kind of remember being at the airport I was about six,” Mr Ruming said.  

“It’s exciting the next time the royals’ have come to Dubbo, my child is of that age. 

“I want to be able to do what my mum did for me with Charlotte.”

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