Royals give weather the boot as end of tour nears

Despite earthquakes and rain, the gave NZ weather the boot today, with Meghan showing a talent for welly wanging.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex tries a spot of well wanging after the royal couple dedicated a 20-hectare area of native bush to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in Auckland. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

A deep 6.1 magnitude earthquake may have rattled parts of New Zealand’s North Island today, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Auckland — where the quake wasn’t strongly felt — and continued with a public walkabout on the city’s waterfront.

Reporters travelling with the couple said they did not feel any tremors during the quake, which the US Geological Survey (USGS) gave a magnitude of 6.1.

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend a ceremony to dedicate a 20-hectare area of native bush to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in Auckland this morning. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Earlier, the royal couple delighted din giving the sport of welly wanging a shake.

As the royals spent the second-last day of their overseas tour in and around Auckland, Meghan gained bragging rights over her husband as they donned gumboots and wrangling umbrellas amid heavy rain as they opened an area of native bush near Auckland.

The pair weathered a heavy downpour as they dedicated 20 hectares of native bush to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

Then Meghan trounced Prince Harry at throwing gumboots — part of a classic New Zealand rural game known as “welly wanging” — with local school children cheering her on.

Prince Harry take his shot at welly wanging. Picture: Greg Bowker/AFP

With a flick of the wrist, Meghan wins bragging rights in the welly wanging. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/AP

With a flick of the wrist the pregnant duchess gave a flick of the wrist and sent her red-and-white polka dot welly sailing past Harry’s best effort.

Meghan — in a ponytail, J Crew jeans, a Karen Walker blazer, and her own gumboots — walked away with the Wellington-shaped trophy.

The royals were also given some baby-sized, black-and-green gumboots for their upcoming baby.

All black onesie for the bump

Later, back in Auckland, lashings of rain and wind did nothing to dampen the spirits of the public as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greeted their Auckland fans.

An army of spectators equipped with umbrellas and raincoats lined the waterfront of New Zealand’s largest city to see the royal duo.

Appearing alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — who took a few selfies of her own — the royal couple were lavished with gifts from the screaming crowd, including an All Blacks onesie for their baby, plenty of flowers and a rendition of New Zealand’s national anthem in Maori.

The Duchess wore a beige pencil dress with a light brown overcoat, while the Duke was dressed in a blue suit, blue shirt and blue suede shoes.

They royal couple will tonight attend a reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum with Ms Ardern.

Wednesday marks the last day of their tour and will be spent in the central North Island city of Rotorua.

Back in Auckland, the royals dried up and ditched the casual attire for a visit to Pillars, a charity operating that supports children who have a parent in prison. and to meet members of the public during a walkabout. Picture: Chris Jackson/AP

Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex take the weather in their stride. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Their jam-packed 16-day tour that has included more than 70 engagements in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand

— with wires