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Pregnant Meghan the star as Pacific royal tour ends
Estelle
Wed, 10/31/2018 - 08:00

Teaser Media

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ROTORUA - Prince Harry and pregnant wife Meghan visited the New Zealand resort town of Rotorua Wednesday to wrap up a lengthy Pacific tour which has confirmed the star appeal of Britain's newest royal.

Meghan, displaying what Harry affectionately refers to as "our little bump", has drawn adoring crowds in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand on her first international tour since the couple married in May.

The American-born former actress and her husband attended 76 engagements over 16 days in the former British colonies, with Meghan sometimes changing designer outfits four times in a single day.

While they observed the inevitable formalities with prime ministers and other dignitaries, members of the public who met the touring royals said they came across as down-to-earth and personable.

Meghan did not stand on ceremony, happily participating in a "welly-wanging" (gumboot throwing) competition, halting their royal entourage several times to give shy toddlers a cuddle and bringing her home-made banana bread to afternoon tea in outback Dubbo.

The tour opened with the bombshell announcement that Meghan was expecting the couple's first baby early next year, sparking fears she would be vulnerable to Zika virus in Fiji and Tonga.

Meghan proved so popular in Fiji that her minders whisked her away from an engagement at a Suva market, fearing it was becoming overcrowded.

But Meghan, who became Duchess of Sussex when she married Harry, showed she was more than a clothes horse, giving several speeches expressing her support for female empowerment.

She spoke in Fiji about her own struggles to afford university in the United States, arguing the case for open education.

In Wellington, her message was "feminism is about fairness" and human rights for all "including members of society who have been marginalised -- whether for reasons of race, gender, ethnicity, or orientation".

Tribal spokesman Toby Curtis singled out Meghan, who has a mixed race background, as an inspiration for young Maori, saying she brought "a fresh perspective and diversity" to the monarchy.

"She has shown you can succeed, make a difference and be your own person while also celebrating your heritage. This inspires us all," he said.