A morning of wet welly wanging as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Redvale to induct the newest section of a forest into The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.
The weather couldn’t make its mind up as the event went from downpours to blue sky and back again to being soaking wet.
The Duke gave a quick speech referring once again to the “blessing” the rain is.
The royals sit in a downpour in Redvale. Photo: Jamie Samhan/Royal Central
Speaking of the importance of preserving the forests, Prince Harry said: “The sooner we fully appreciate our surroundings, and how interconnected we all are the better. Not just for our planet, but for the balance of all its inhabitants.”
From there, the Duke and Duchess planted trees.
Meghan looked a little unsure how to use the shovel, dragging it across the soil rather than digging in as Harry did.
She planted a kōwhai tree, the same type that was embroidered into her veil.
The tree “produces abundant flowers in spring and is a favourite food of tree geckos, tui, bellbird and kererū.”
The Duke planted a “puriri” tree, which is only found in the top half of the North Island of New Zealand. They can reach 20 metres tall with a trunk up to 1.5 metres in diameter. They fruit continuously during the year and are sought by kererū (wood pigeon) and kākā.”
Harry wangs a welly. Photo: Jamie Samhan/Royal Central
To end the wet morning, the Duke and Duchess took part in a welly wanging competition. Harry modestly threw his, but Meghan was a pro at welly wanging, coming in first.
This afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden will join Harry and Meghan for a walkabout at the Viaduct Harbour, where people have lined up for hours in the pouring rain.
