Meghan Markle – now the Duchess of Sussex – held an umbrella for her husband Prince Harry in a touching moment in Dubbo on Wednesday.
Prince Harry was addressing the community during a downpour – leading pregnant Meghan to step in and help out.
The couple were visiting the drought-stricken region on Oct. 17 as part of their 16-day tour of Australia.
Harry and Meghan were primed to take part in a outdoor programme of events at the Clontarf Academy, but the rain meant the plans were shelved.
Hundreds of schoolchildren dashed for cover during the downpour at the academy, which aims to improve the life skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young men.
In one of the classrooms before heading outside, Harry spoke about the stigma of mental health.
He said to a group of boys, all with aboriginal family links: “There is a stigma still attached from our parents and grandparents’ time not to talk about mental health.”
Harry encouraged the youngsters to talk about their mental health issues with each other.
Earlier during their Dubbo visit, the royal couple met farmers Scott and Elaine Woodley, whose area of New South Wales has been experiencing the most prolonged period of drought since records began in 1900.
The Woodleys said they had greatly appreciated Harry and Meghan’s visit, although had been somewhat shell-shocked at being chosen
“They were very interested to hear what we have been coping with the last few years,” Mr Woodley said.
“We can cope with a few months of drought but this has been two years and the hay has already been affected for next year. They seemed to understand exactly what we have been going through.
“They understood how we have been forced to sell so much stock, all of our breeding ewes, and how prices for grain have gone through the roof.”
Daughter Laura described the royal visit as “a bit surreal”, adding: “It was an honour and a privilege.”
The family said Meghan had made a cake for the family, describing it as “incredibly nice of her”.
