Prince Harry and Meghan spark royal fever in Wellington

Sunday, 28 October 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex laid a wreath at the National War Memorial before greeting the thousands that had come to catch a glimpse.

Draped in Union Jack flags and wearing an array of tiaras, thousands of royal fans descended on Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The stylish pair, who arrived at their only public walkabout in the capital about 4.45pm, stepped out of their car to an almighty scream from the large crowd brandishing all manner of gifts along with their smartphones to record every moment.

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The crowd grew quiet as the royals ascended the War Memorial stairs, disappeared from public sight to pay their respects and lay a wreath and two single ferns at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

During a moment of silence and the playing of The Last Post, the ferns flew away in the whipping, but quintessentially Wellington, wind.

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex greet Maori elders while attending a traditional welcome ceremony on the lawns of Goverment House.

Harry accepted the Badge in Gold, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association's (RNZRSA) highest award, in recognition of his work to improve the lives of veterans and their families. His new wife was tasked with pinning the award on to his lapel.

Harry and Meghan greet royal watchers at Pukeahu War Memorial Park.

The royal couple then met with Dion Taka, who served in Afghanistan, and his assistance dog Delta - the first of two dogs the pair would meet during their walkabout.

Harry Smith, 7, arrived at Pukeahu National War Memorial at 8.30am in hope of meeting his namesake, Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex took a moment to speak to the boy, asking who painted his sign.

The second, a six-year-old Alsatian named Nina, captured the Duke and Duchesses' attention after being pulled from the crowd with her owner Merenia Donne, the founder of the Kotuku Foundation Assistance Animals Aotearoa.

More than 2000 fans waited to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

Donne said it was amazing to discuss the foundation's work with assistance dogs for people with rare and life-threatening medical conditions.

Again braving the wind, the pair made their way across Anzac Park to the recently opened UK War Memorial, commissioned to honour the shared sacrifices by New Zealanders and Britons in conflicts over the past century.

The couple also met with National Party leader Simon Bridges and his wife Natalie.

The Duke and Duchess meet with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

With their formal obligations out of the way, the pair smiled happily as they began the much-anticipated walkabout to meet those gathered.

Among the gifts received included multiple bags of pineapple lumps, a large dog soft toy and a handmade brooch, which Meghan chose to wear for the remainder of the engagement.

Its designer, Alexandra MacKay, 10, from Wellington said she was in shock after meeting the Duchess and having her accept the red rose brooch she made this morning with her friend Rebecca Sainsbury, 10.

A moment many Kiwis had been waiting for eventuated right as they were due to be ushered away, with Harry gifted a buzzy bee toy for their impending arrival. He triumphantly raised it above his head as the crowd cheered.

Photos of Prince Harry's older brother William playing with the same toy, while in New Zealand with parents Charles and Diana in 1983, made front pages of newspapers around the world at the time.

The day's engagements ended where they began, at Government House, where after a brief evacuation due to a falsely triggered fire alarm, Markle followed Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy in giving a speech commemorating 125 years of women's suffrage in New Zealand.

After praising the women of New Zealand for their 'universally admired' suffrage campaign, she closed with a quote from Kate Sheppard: 'all that separates, whether race, class, creed or sex, is inhuman, and must be overcome'.

The Royal pair will start Monday at the Maranui Cafe, Lyall Bay, before a trip to Abel Tasman National Park.