Even the wet weather couldn’t stopPrince HarryandMeghan Marklefrom proving they are as tough as boots in New Zealand!
Meghan and Harry arrived hand-in-hand, before lining up to the mark to begin the game, the objective of which is 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 local 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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Meanwhile, Harry, 34, stayed dry in a white button-down shirt, gray pants, a brown trenchcoat, and his own pair of black Muck boots.
The couple, however, temporarily switched into matching black rain jackets during the boot-throwing competition.
Ahead of the game, Meghan and Harry were greeted with a powhiri, a traditional Maori welcoming ceremony, and then went on to dedicate a 50-acre area of native bush on the North Shore to theQueen’s Commonwealth Canopy.
During the ceremony, Harry lovingly held an umbrella over his wife’s head as they stood at the podium together.
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The pair also helped plant various trees, including a puriri tree (native to the North Island) and a kōwhai tree, according tostuff.co.nz,before unveiling a plaque and learning about the ecological importance of the native bush.
At the end of their engagement, Meghan and Harry greeted and performed in the traditional practice of hongi with members of the QEII Trust. The royal couple also happily interacted with several of the schoolchildren before heading out to their next event.
Harry and Meghan previously unveiled other new additions to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy on the royal tour: the Forests of K’gari onAustralia’s Fraser Island,Colo-i-Suva Forest Park in Fijiand the Toloa Forest Reserve at Tonga’s Tupou College.
On Sunday (local time), Meghan and Harrytouched down in Wellingtonand wasted no time immersing themselves in the New Zealand culture.
The royal parents-to-be attended a traditional welcome ceremony on the lawns of Government House, the residence of the Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy.
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Meghan alsodelivered a powerful speechon Sunday, which was a celebration of New Zealand’s 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage, and shared her passion for feminism.
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The pair will next make a visit to the Pillars, where they will meet and mentor children who have a parent in prison.
source: people.com
