Royal tour: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry take on New Zealand
FROM Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Maori elders, New Zealanders are showing a lot of love for the Duchess of Sussex on the last full day of the royal couple’s epic tour Down Under.
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THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex were given a colourful and loud welcome to Rotorua as they kicked off the final day of their popular royal tour Down Under.
Dozens of schoolchildren and Maori leaders gave a boisterous greeting to the newlyweds in Rotorua, 228km southeast of Auckland.
The Duchess was also praised by a local Maori tribe spokesman as a being an inspiring role model, and helping bring indigenous New Zealanders closer to the monarchy.
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Hundreds of voices gave a resounding haka to the couple. The Duchess was dressed in a navy Stella McArtney dress, while the Duke wore a grey suit with service medals.
Local leaders will show Harry and Meghan around various churches in Rotorua, a city of about 60,000 people.
The Duchess was presented with a Korowai, a woven Maori cloak intended to protect her while pregnant. The colours were inspired by the Sussex coat of arms, featuring silks in blue, gold, white and red.
Prince Harry was also presented with a beautifully woven garment, and weaving in Maori words as he thanked those in attendance for the gift.
“Thank you for the beautiful cloak you have so kindly gifted to myself and the Duchess,” Prince Harry said.
“We appreciate the skill of the weavers who made it, and the aroha (love) that has gone into its creation.
“This cloak is a taonga (highly prized object) that will be cherished in our family.”
Local leaders praised the visit as a “huge cultural significance to Maori” people.
“The Duchess is a role model for Maori,” said Sir Toby Curtis, a spokesman for the local Te Arawa tribe.
“She has shown you can succeed, make a difference and be your own person while also celebrating your heritage; this inspires as all.
“The Duchess’ presence in Royal Family has made us feel even closer to the monarchy as she brings a fresh perspective and diversity.”
The Duke and Duchess also spoke with school children who had waited hours to see them, with some offering them traditional Maori gifts.
Flowers were presented to the Duchess by 8-year-old Atareta Milne, including Lily of the Valley which were in Meghan’s bridal bouquet.
These only bloom for two weeks each year, and conveniently, they did so just last week.
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Last night, the Duchess took a leaf out of her sister-in-law Catherine’s book by wearing a recycled dress to a glitzy evening bash hosted by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Ms Ardern, who gave birth to her own baby in June, praised the role Meghan is “playing at such an often tiring time,” adding: “I have real empathy and I think she’s incredible.”
Meghan was the picture of elegance as she arrived at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the navy asymmetric Antonio Beradi dress.
It was the same gown she wore in May 2017 at a polo event, one of her first public outings with Prince Harry early on in their relationship.
In a speech at the reception, the Duke thanked Ms Ardern for “hosting me and my wife on our first visit to New Zealand as a couple”.
“It’s a place we’ve both visited separately and it has been a joy to return here together to enjoy this stunning country,” he said.
“We’re meeting little Kiwis, we’re meeting big Kiwis, being treated to your fantastic food, culture and sporting activities - well if you can call welly-wanging or gum-boot throwing a sport! Perhaps we should have a three-test series and see who comes out on top.”
HARRY’S HEARTFELT ADVICE TO LITTLE BOY
Prince Harry had an emotional moment yesterday when offering heartfelt advice to a little boy whose mother recently died.
The Duke of Sussex, who lost his own mum, the late Princess Diana, when he was aged just 12, was on a walkabout at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour when he stopped to chat to six-year-old Otia Nante, whose unnamed mother recently took her life.
“Everything will be OK — look at me,” Prince Harry told the child as he explained to the boy how important grandparents were.
Harry spoke to Otia for several minutes, his Auckland businesswoman grandmother Te Nante, 52, told News Corp Australia.
Witnesses reported how the Duke referred to wife Meghan Markle as he consoled the child. “I have met this amazing woman and I have now married her,” he said.
Prince Harry told the young boy: “Life will always be alright, you know that. I made it to 34 years old and life is great.”
Turning to look at his wife, he added: “(I have a) beautiful wife, baby on the way. Your life is going to be sorted, don’t you worry about that.”
Mrs Nante, who now looks after her grandson, said: “Harry just said ‘everything will be fine, you will grow up to be strong and positive’.”
The kind-hearted Harry may have been thinking of his own grandmother, the Queen, and her love over the years as he offered Mrs Nante words of support.
“You’re doing a great job, Nan,” he said. “Nans are so important in our lives.”
The Duke, who also received gifts including flowers and Marmite, then took a letter the boy wrote and promised to read it later.
During the walkabout, NZ PM Jacinda Ardern took photos of the couple with locals.
