The Royal Couple Tour Drought-Stricken Dubbo
Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in Dubbo yesterday, where they have been greeted by local officials – and a bunch of schoolchildren who jumped up and down as their plane landed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew into the central western city yesterday morning, where the drought is biting hard – though showers are forecast for the day of the royal visit.
The couple were greeted by the New South Wales Police Minister and member for Dubbo, Troy Grant, and the mayor, Ben Shields. Then, holding hands, the couple walked across to the children from each of the region’s schools and spent several minutes chatting with them.
Waiting patiently at the end of a line of excited children who had gathered at the airport to meet the couple, Luke Vincent from Buninyong Public school greeted Harry with a huge bear hug before reaching out his hand to pull on his beard.
Luke then handed the Duchess of Sussex a bouquet of flowers, before throwing his arms around her as well.
Their first official engagement in Dubbo was at the dedication of a new plane for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
When three-year-old Keiley Storer handed shyly over a posy of gerberas and daisies, Meghan said “would you like one back?” and returned a white flower.
Keiley was one of three country patients meeting the royal couple whose lives were saved after they were flown in from outlying properties and bush towns by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). They were among a crowd of around a hundred patients, staff and RFDS volunteers gathered inside the service’s airport hangar. The Duke and Duchess also met Afghanistan war hero Marcus Wilson, an Australian Army veteran who is also competing in the Invictus Games sailing competition. Wilson, who won a bravery award pulling wounded out of a helicopter crash, said Harry was “excited” about the coming games.
The couple are also due to meet residents for a community picnic at a park in the regional city. Despite most of the area being in the middle of one of the worst droughts NSW has seen, rain is forecast for most of yesterday. The couple enjoyed good weather on Tuesday at the start of their 16day trip, visiting Taronga Zoo and the Sydney Opera House.
The Dubbo stop is part of a jampacked schedule of 76 engagements across 16 days with the royals visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland’s Fraser Island as well as Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.