Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Royal tour LIVE: Pair complete 16-day landmark visit


The Royal couple are in Rotorua, New Zealand and have a packed day ahead.


Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit the Ohinemutu for traditional Maori Powhiri and lunch.


Then they will visit a Kiwi breeding programme and name two chicks.


Finally, there will be a walkabout in the town followed a tree walk and mountain biking showcase.


Follow below for live updates on everything that happens on the last day. All times are in GMT.





7am update: Touching moment Meghan rewards two-year-old with big hug 


A two-year-old who crept through the railing during Meghan and Harry"s final tour walkabout was rewarded with a big hug from the Duchess. 


Catalina Rivera and her mother Mercedes - who moved to New Zealand from El Salvador 10 months ago - were among the well-wishers at Rotorua"s Government Gardens. 


Meghan initally had difficulty communicating with the youngster as Catalina"s first launguage is Spanish. 


Mercedes, who is eight months pregnant, said: "Meghan said that she was beautiful, and asked her for a hug.


"We were trying to mime hugging in the background.


"We were just so excited to see her."



meghan markle prince harry


Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the last day of their Royal tour (Image: GETTY & PA)

Paul Withers taking over live reporting from Abbie Llewelyn.


5:45am update: Woman who met the Sussexes speaks about the heartwarming moment


Tekariki Mitchell, 50, and his mother, Rene Mitchell, 70, showed Harry and Meghan around the kitchens, including the traditional golden steamed pudding.


Ms Mitchell gave a demonstration of how to make the local delicacy.


She said afterwards: “I welcomed them here, and was very happy when they greeted me with a hongi (traditional greeting) as I wasn’t sure if they would.


“They said our way of cooking food was the Hangi (geothermal oven) was so wonderful.”


“I told them how I learnt through my mum, and that the recipe itself is very simple but over the years people have added their own variations.”


4:15am update: The end!


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially finished their final engagement of the Royal tour 2018, after 76 engagements, four countries and a lot of travel.


The couple wave goodbye as they get into a car outside the Redwoods Treewalk


Harry said: "It"s been great, thanks guys."


They will return to Auckland this evening, before departing for London tomorrow.


4.00am update: Meghan Markle is still wearing her stilettos up in the trees


Always the fashionista, the Duchess of Sussex is wearing her stilettos even up in trees.




meghan markle prince harry


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex up in the trees (Image: REUTERS)


3:45am update: Royals to meet mountain biking community


During their Redwoods Tree Walk, the Meghan and Harry will meet members of a mountain biking community.


There will be a mountain biking showcase too.


3:30am update: Final engagement underway - number 76


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are starting their final engagement of the Royal tour - a walk through the trees.


They have arrived at Redwoods Tree walk and are following a guide across rickety rope bridges up in the branches.


Harry walks protectively behind Meghan, who is now wearing a puffer coat.




prince harry royal tour


Prince Harry entertains a baby on the Royal walkabout (Image: GETTY)


meghan markle royal tour


Meghan Markle meeting fans (Image: GETTY)


prince harry royal tour


Prince Harry meeting fans at the official walkabout in Rotorua, New Zealand on last day of tour (Image: GETTY)


3:15am update: Harry and Meghan stay late at the meet and greet


Apparently trying to meet as many people as possible, the newlyweds overrun their alloted time at the walkabout.


People are reaching out to shake their hands and smiling.


3:00am update: Harry and Meghan are meeting crowds of well-wishers


The pair have embarked on their final walkabout of their tour in Rotorua.


They are shaking hands, waving and saying hello to well-wishers.


Apparently keen to meet so many people, it seems like they will be out for more than their alloted time of 30 minutes.




meghan markle royal tour


Meghan Markle at the kiwi hatchery (Image: REUTERS)


2:45am update: The last public walkabout of the Royal tour


The couple are due to attend their last public walkabout of their Royal tour in Rotorua"s central business district.


The town of Rotorua is on New Zealand"s North Island next to a lake of the same name.


It is well known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture.


2:30am update: These chicks have very cute names


The Royal couple met "Koha" (gift) and "Tihei" (sneeze), who are baby chicks just three days old.




meghan markle prince harry


Meghan and Harry meet a newborn kiwi chick (Image: REUTERS)


meghan markle prince harry


Harry and Meghan hold hands (Image: GETTY)


2:15am update: The Duke and Duchess meet a newborn kiwi chick


Harry and Meghan are visiting a kiwi breeding programme and met a kiwi chick that hatched moments ago.


They have both changed outfits:


Meghan is now in a Givenchy blue dress and black stiletos.


Harry is wearing a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, and chinos.


2:00am update: Lunch ends and the couple head to a kiwi hatchery


The couple are now headed to the National Kiwi Hatchery.


Kiwis are flightless birds native to New Zealand and whence people from New Zealand got their nickname/




meghan markle prince harry


The Duke and Duchess of Sussex remove their cloaks before entering the kitchens (Image: GETTY)


1:45am update: A crowd is waiting for Meghan and Harry"s walkabout


Hundreds of people are in Rotorua for the last public walkabout of the tour.


They will be waiting for at least another hour before the Duke and Duchess emerge from their lunch and kiwi bird visit.


One sign reads "Fancy a cuppa, Megs? I have banana bread.


Another reads: "Hello your royal bumpness".


1:30am update: The Royal pair remove their cloaks go in for lunch


Meghan and Harry’s cloaks are removed as they visit the kitchens and are given a private lunch.


Their Kiri Nathan necklaces can now be seen more clearly.


These were given to them by Governor General Patsy Reddy and are said to affirm peace, love and safe journey.




meghan markle royal tour


Meghan is stunning in her Stella McCartney dress and new cloak of protection (Image: PA)


1.15am: Meghan enjoys “little bump” joke and Prince Harry speaks in Maori for a minute


The couple enter the Tamatekapua Meeting House and take part in a ceremony conducted in Maori.


English is only used once - when Monty Morrison from the council looked at the Duchess and said “little bump” to laughter.


The group sing folk songs about their history.


Prince Harry spoke for a minute in Maori, thanking their hosts for their gifts.


1.00am update: The Duke of Sussex is handed a special Maori weapon.


The Duke of Sussex was handed a carved weapon, called a tewhatewha, and warned not to take it to Twickenham when england play New Zealand.


The Maori weapon has a point at one end and an axe on the other


Trevor Maxwell, who is on the local district council, said: “I am sure you are going to Twickenham when the All Blacks play England on November 11 - make sure you don’t take that.”




prince harry royal tour


Prince Harry gets a Maori greeting (Image: GETTY)


meghan markle royal tour


Meghan gets a Maori welcome (Image: GETTY)


12:45am: The Royals meet members of the Maori village


Meghan and Harry get a Maori greeting from many people.


One of these is Royal flagstaff bearer Shaloh Mitchell, 44, and his daughters.


The flag has been in his family since 1901 when the Duke of Cornwall gifted it in recognition of their loyalty.


The Duke and Duchess are also due to meet the last surviving member of the Maori Battallion, 96-year old Bom Gillies.


12:30am update: Prince Harry is challenged by the Maori warrier


Prince Harry is given the formal Maori challenge on the lakeside at Rotorua.


He picks up the ceremonial dagger, all whilst keeping his eyes on the warrier challenging him.


Then he and his wife and formally invited into the marae (meeting hall).



prince harry royal tour


A real Maori welcome (Image: GETTY)


prince harry royal tour


Prince Harry is challenged by a Maori warrior (Image: REUTERS)


12:15am update: Meghan is gifted a Maori clock to protect her baby


Meghan is wearing an elegant, navy Stella McCartney dress and poppy pinned to her chest.


Prince Harry is wearing a smart grey suit, with his military medals on show and a poppy.


However, they are both now donning Maori cloaks on top of these clothes.


Meghan was gifted her Korowai, which acts as a protector for her new baby.


12:00am: Meghan wants to help with the lunch preparations


Locals use the natural geothermal steam of Rotorua to cook.


Meghan has reportedly asked to meet the Maori women who are making lunch, so she can cook with them.


This is reminiscent of when the Duchess got stuck in at her cookbook launch, helping prepare food with several women affected by the Grenfell disaster.


Today, the menu will include seafood and traditional Maori bread.


Meghan will see the Whakaturia (hall kitchen) including the steamed hangi box where the pork, chicken and seasonal vegetables are steamed for three hours.



meghan markle royal tour


Meghan gets given a cape of protection (Image: GETTY)


royal tour new zealand


The couple get a warm welcome from the Maori (Image: GETTY)


11:45pm update: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive in Ohinemutu and receive a warm greeting from the Maori


Meghan and Harry have already started their first engagement of the day - visiting the Maori people of Te Papaiouru Marae in the Ohinemutu area of Rotorua.


They were given a fantastic welcome and a formal powhiri.


The sun is shining bright, which is much better than the past few days of rain!




meghan markle prince harry


The couple at St Faiths Church (Image: GETTY)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Meghan Markle "secretly flew economy to visit best friend"

All the Ways Jessica Mulroney"s Star Has Risen In The Six Months Since The Royal Wedding

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry"s royal baby rules: 5 unusual traditions the couple will likely follow - Fox News