The weather finally cleared up forPrince HarryandMeghan Markleas they greeted fans in Auckland, New Zealand.
After a busy day that included dedicating an area of native bush to theQueen’s Commonwealth Canopy, participating in “welly wanging” contest with local children and visiting a charity that supports children who have a parent in prison, the royal couple met members of the public.
As they interacted with fans, the royal parents-to-be received several gifts from the crowd including an All Blacks — the country’s football team — onesie, a tui bird soft toy and even a rain boot, or a Wellington as locals call the footwear, stuffed with roses.
Meghan, 37, stepped out in a beige Brandon Maxwell dress with matching Stuart Weitzman pumps and a beige Burberry Bishop trench coat.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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The duo made sure to talk to as many royal fans as possible — especially the younger members of the crowd.
Meghan invited a little girl through the crowd control fence and was rewarded with a sweet stuffed toy of a native tui bird.
One young royal fan who was wearing a shirt that read “Girls Can Do Anything” caught Harry’s eyein Sydney — so much that he just had to call his wife over to meet her.
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The Duchess of Sussex replied, “I was literally about to say the same thing!”
Harry then took a fan’s phone to snap a photo of Meghan with her mini-me — a rare move for the prince, who usually adheres to the royal protocol of no autographs or selfies.
Earlier in the day, the royal couple bonded with local children from the environmental education group, “Trees of Survival,” and joined the kids for a “welly wanging” contest.
The objective of the game was to throw a Wellington boot — which New Zealanders refer to as “Wellies” — as far as possible. (Wellingtons are equivalent to what Americans call rainboots, Bean Boots, or duck boots.)
The children cheered as Meghan showed off her strength and won the competition, throwing her red-and-white polka-dotted boot approximately a meter away from Harry’s blue boot. For the win, the Duchess was rewarded with arainboot-shaped trophy.
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Meghan and Harry already had a special connection to the charity: as a wedding present to the couple, the government of New Zealand gifted $5,000 to Pillars. During Tuesday’s visit, they met some of the children who directly benefited from the funding.
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source: people.com
