British royals reign over drought-stricken Australian town
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with Luke Vincent, 5, after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived with the gift of much-needed rain and cheer on Wednesday for the rural Australian city of Dubbo, where farmers are struggling with a prolonged drought.
The prince charmed the crowd at a picnic in the town's main park, standing at a podium in pouring rain with Meghan holding an umbrella over him, on the second day of their Pacific tour, which takes in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.
Britain's Prince Harry interacts with Luke Vincent, 5, after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
"The rain is a gift!" Prince Harry told the thousands who had come out to see the royal couple in Dubbo, about 300 km (185 miles) northwest of Sydney.
They had earlier visited a farm hit by the drought and Harry recalled his own stay on an Australian farm 15 years ago, where he said he was chased by countless cattle and perfected the Aussie salute of swatting flies.
"You are the salt of the earth. Honest, hard-working, and as tough as they come," Harry said.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
In an issue close to his heart, he urged those facing mental health problems due to the tough times plaguing rural Australia to seek help.
"You are all in this together and, if I may say, personally, we are all in this together - because asking for help was one of the best decisions that I ever made. You will be continually amazed how life changes for the better," he said to cheers and applause.
The royal couple's visit to Australia coincides with the Invictus Games in Sydney from Oct. 20-27. The games, founded by Harry, are an international paralympic-style event that aims to lift the spirits of wounded military veterans.
Meghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, speaks to a girl as she arrives at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/Pool
A 5-year-old boy earlier stole the show in a long line of school children who met the royals at Dubbo airport.
Luke Vincent, who has Down Syndrome and adores Santa Claus, threw his arms around Meghan when she knelt down to greet him and tugged at Harry's beard and patted him on the head when the prince hugged the boy.
Meghan, who is expecting the royal couple's first child in the northern spring, wore skinny black jeans, a white shirt, long gray jacket and black boots with her hair tied back in a pony tail.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with children from Dubbo South Public School after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Prince Harry and Meghan, on their first international tour since marrying in May, also visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Dubbo.
The medical service was anointed as "royal" in 1955 after Queen Elizabeth, Harry's grandmother, visited Australia.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interacts with children next to members of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Paul Tait)
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hugs Luke Vincent, 5, after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NoblePeople wait for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to arrive at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Harry hugs a member of the public as he arrives at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolMeghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, meets members of the public as she arrives at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolMeghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, meets members of the public at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Harry meets members of the public at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Harry meets members of the public at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolBritain's Prince Harry greets a baby as he arrives at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolPeople wait for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to arrive at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, Australia October 18, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/PoolMeghan, Duchess of Sussex, interacts with a child next to members of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with children from Dubbo South Public School after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with children after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with children after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with Luke Vincent, 5, after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleBritain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, interact with members of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleMeghan, Duchess of Sussex, interacts with children from Dubbo South Public School after arriving at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleChildren wave Australia's national flags during a community picnic with Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Victoria Park in Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NoblePeople shelter themselves from the rain during a community picnic with Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Victoria Park in Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil NobleChildren from Dubbo Public School wave Australia's national flags while waiting for Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to arrive at Dubbo airport, Dubbo, Australia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble
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