ROYAL WELLY
Meghan Markle dons £120 boots as she beats Prince Harry at welly wanging in New Zealand
MEGHAN beat Harry in a welly-wanging contest in New Zealand.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex braved the rain in Auckland as they near the end of their tour Down Under.
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The Royal pair went head-to-head to hurl gumboots at a target, along with kids from the Trees in Survival group.
They were pictured laughing as the Duchess stepped up to lob her pink and white polka dot welly, while Harry threw a blue boot.
And it was the Duchess's team who won on the day - even though Harry managed to get his boot slightly closer to the target.
Meghan looked classy wearing Muck Boot Company reign wellies, which sell for £120.
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She also wore black J Crew jeans and a navy blue Karen Walker blazer - but slipped on a branded rain coat for the contest.
Harry looked dapper in grey chinos, white shirt and a long brown overcoat.
They are on a 16-day trip which has seen them travel to Australia, Fiji and Tonga, and they are now in New Zealand.
In the afternoon, the pair took a tour of Viaduct Harbour in Auckland.
Meghan held her growing baby bump as she wore a figure hugging tan Brandon Maxwell dress, long Burberry rain mac and nude heels.
Harry changed into a petrol blue suit and blue suede shoes.
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Crowd and band play Suits theme tune as Meghan Markle greets Auckland crowds
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What is welly wanging?
Also known as welly hoying and boot throwing, welly wanging sees competitors take it in turns lob wellies at a target.
The bizarre game originated in England's West Country.
Rules differ depending on the country you are playing it in - for example, in Somerset the boot is filled with water before being thrown.
Teppo Luoma, of Finland, holds the world record for the longest welly-wang - 63.98 metres (209.9 ft).
The World Welly Wanging Association HQ is in Upperthong UK.
Meghan was presented with flowers by six-year-old Ghianna Angi as the couple arrive at Pillars.
The charity operating across New Zealand that supports children who have a parent in prison through mentoring schemes.
The crowd also handed her soft toys, flowers and a bag of slime.
A brass band played the theme music from Meghan's old show Suits and the crowd sang-a-long as the Duchess greeted well-wishers.
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But Meghan was careful not to acknowledge their cheeky musical cue, with royals keen for her to distance her image from her acting past.
The mother and father-to-be later attended a reception hosted by prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Speaking before the reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand's PM said: "There's a real connection between particularly William and Harry in recent years so it's nice to have been able to host them in such close proximity."
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When asked if the question of whether the Duke and Duchess's visit has changed views on New Zealand becoming a republic, Ms Ardern said: "It just really doesn't come up as much.
"The only time it really comes up is, often off the back of visits, people tend to ask the question.
"What you'll pick up from the New Zealand public is that there is a real affinity for the Queen and a real strength of feeling around members of the royal family, particularly given, in the wake of some of our disasters, that they've been quick to respond and be present."
Ms Ardern said had not shared any baby tips with Harry and Meghan - the PM gave birth to baby Neve in June - but that she admired the duchess for her work while pregnant.
She said: "It's just increased my respect for the role that she's playing at such an often tiring time.
"I have real empathy and I think she's incredible."
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Earlier today Meghan got her hands dirty, helped to plant a kowhai tree - a traditional flower she had sewn into her stunning wedding veil.
Father-in-law Charles is sure to be impressed with her green-fingered eagerness.
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Their tour was unaffected as New Zealand was struck by a 6.2 magnitude earthquake 220 miles away.
The final stop on the royal tour on Wednesday will be Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal activity with geysers and mud pools.
Yesterday they came face-to-face with an orc from Lord of the Rings.
Meghan Markle cheered as she speaks Maori in speech celebrating women's suffrage in New Zealand
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