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The Duke of Sussex criticised "fast fashion" for its environmental impact as he and wife Meghan took to a litter-strewn beach in Melbourne.

Prince Harry and Meghan's last engagement of the day in Victoria saw them visit South Melbourne beach, where they heard about BeachPatrol's efforts to keep the local coastline litter-free and reduce the impact on the marine environment.

Students from Albert Park primary school and Albert Park college - who had been helping to keep the beach tidy - showed the couple bags containing plastic cups, bottles and straws which they had found in the sand.

The Duke said: "There is literally plastic everywhere.

"And, you know, microplastics are a real problem, especially the microplastics from fast fashion. Did you know that's one of the biggest culprits?"

(Image: PA) (Image: Getty Images)

'Fast fashion' is a contemporary term used by retailers for designs move from catwalk quickly to capture current trends. The quick turnover often leads to a lot of waste.

Meghan told the pupils: "It's amazing what you guys are doing.

"Well done, you're doing a really great job. Keep it up."

The couple then strolled hand in hand towards an assembled group of lifeguards with one, Sebastian Top, asking if they were going for a dip.

(Image: Getty Images)

(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"Maybe not today," said Meghan, who was wearing eco-friendly shoes made from recycled water bottles by Rothy's.

Harry pointed to a group of around 30 people who had waded into the sea from the beach to get a better view of them.

He said: "If we try and swim, I think they might be a bit of a hazard."

Two of the seven charities chosen by the couple for guests at their May wedding to donate at focused on environmental causes, Surfers Against Sewage and The Wilderness Foundation UK.

(Image: PA)

Surfers Against Sewage is a national non-profit organization that campaigns to communities to take action to protect oceans, rivers, lakes, waterways, and aquatic wildlife from the eight million tons of plastic pollution that enter the ocean each year.

Earlier this year the Duke appeared with his father the Prince of Wales as the latter gave a major speech about saving coral reefs.

(Image: Media-Mode / SplashNews.com)

At an event in London, he listened as his father told an audience: “It is a common phrase now that rather than borrowing our present from future generations, we are stealing it.

“Well, the speed of the ecological marine cataclysm that we have engendered is such that not only will our children be faced with the monochrome legacy of the graveyard of destroyed reefs and the collapse of marine biodiversity, but the majority of us alive today will stand witness to the process.”