Tuesday 30 October 2018

Prime Minister Ardern Praises Meghan's "Warmth and Grace" During Youth Reception

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex concluded their day in Auckland with an evening reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.


The Duchess arriving.


The event was hosted by the Prime Minister. The PM has been incredibly warm and supportive throughout the visit, making as much time in her hectic schedule as possible to accompany the couple during engagements. Earlier today, she joined them for a visit to local charity Pillars and for a busy walkabout. She gifted Meghan a special pair of Boh Runga earrings, which the Duchess has worn several times. In return, Meghan gave her a copy of Together, the Grenfell cookbook she helped bring to life with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen. The PM said she had "enjoyed" chatting with the couple about mental health, conservation and New Zealand youth. She added she left feeling "very genuine passion" from both of them on the issues they discussed.

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Lizzie Robinson reported: "New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said the royal tour has increased her "admiration" for Meghan. She says: "It can be a tiring thing and she's brought such warmth and grace on this visit...it hasn't slowed her down or the amount they've been out and about so that's much appreciated."

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The reception included cultural performances and entertainment by members of the Pasifika community living in Auckland. 


Enjoying the performance.

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A sweet shot of Harry and Meghan.

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The guests were young people in the 17 to 25 year age group who are making significant contributions to the wellbeing of their communities, representing the future of New Zealand.


Given Harry's role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, we've seen a key focus on championing young people throughout the tour.

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The Mail Online reports:

'The couple watched an energetic performance from dancers SaintzUp and singers Tone6, with Harry nodding his head and tapping his foot as he got into the Polynesian rhythm. As they gave the performers a rapturous round of applause, young people aged 17-25 were arranged into small groups so they could come and mingle.
The Duke told them: 'You guys are amazing', while Meghan asked: 'What issues are you working on?' Hearing about their concerns about the environment, diversity and mental health, the duke, who is now a commonwealth youth ambassador, told them he hoped to 'make people more aware of some of the issues that matter to you guys'.
Encouraging them to continue speaking out for their generation, he said: 'This energy, this connectivity, it's all here in you.' The Duchess listened closely to a group from charity Inspiring Stories, as young women spoke to her about empowering indigenous minorities, getting young people involved in politics, and mental health.'

Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's first Museums. The Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. The Museum is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand's top three heritage libraries. It has pre-eminent Māori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections.


During a speech, Harry said:

"In my role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, it is a privilege to champion so many exceptionally talented young leaders across all 53 countries; your voices are being heard, and each and every one of you is making this change happen." 

A 20 minute video from the reception including speeches.


The Duchess wore her very chic navy Antonio Berardi dress.


Meghan debuted the piece for a charity polo match last year. The two outings showcase the versatility of the garment.


The navy Antonio Berardi Double Breasted Sleeveless Dress features distinctive button detailing, high-low detail, a roundneck, faux flap pockets and back zip closure. The designer described the dress this way: "This dress is peppered with masculine touches - the double-breasted front is a nod to classic suiting. It falls to an asymmetric hem that moves beautifully with each step."


Meghan accessorised with a pair of statement earrings and opted for a brighter lip shade.


Suffolk based jewellery designer Emily Mortimer confirmed they are her £350 Nova Gold White Topaz earrings.


Meghan carried a navy clutch.


And wore her trusty Aquazzura Deneuve pumps in nude.


It's been a fantastic day in Auckland. To view this morning's post on Harry and Meghan's a visit to the North Shore to dedicate a 20 hectare area of the Carol Whaley native bush to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy click here. The royals also enjoyed a private meeting with an inspirational young woman. Meghan wore a Karen Walker jacket and J Crew jeans.


In the afternoon, they joined the PM to visit Pillars, a charity operating across New Zealand that supports children who have a parent in prison through the provision of special mentoring schemes. Afterwards, they spent 40 minutes meeting locals during a walkabout. Meghan wore her Burberry trench and a soft blush Brandon Maxwell dress. Click here to view the post.


Tomorrow, Wednesday 31 October is the final day of the tour. Below, a look at what's in store:

  • The final day of the tour will take place in Rotorua, a town set on Lake Rotorua, renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. The Duke and Duchess will firstly visit Te Papaiouru Marae, for a formal pōwhiri and luncheon.
  • Next, The Duke and Duchess will head to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centre’s kiwi breeding programme. Kiwi, which are New Zealand’s national bird, have become increasingly endangered in recent years, and Their Royal Highnesses will meet conservationists working to protect the species. They will also have the opportunity to name two young kiwi chicks at Rainbow Springs.
  • Later that afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will head into the city for the chance to meet members of the public gathered there. 
  • They will then travel to Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua. The treewalk is a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges between 117-year-old Redwood trees. The forest is also the home to a thriving mountain biking community that draws people of all ages to the Redwoods. The Duke and Duchess will learn more about the forest’s history as they take on the tree walk, and will then meet invited representatives of the local biking community under the forest canopy.
  • Harry and Meghan will return to Auckland that evening, before departing for London the following day.

What do you think of the couple's day in Auckland?

52 comments:

  1. Royal 👑 Watcher30 October 2018 at 06:22

    Wow this is all happening so quickly, I don't have time to catch my breath! From the lovely outdoorsy engagement this morning until now, our young royals are looking amazing. I would personally have run out of smiles by now, so well done!!! Loved the mornings gumboots and I love the navy blue dress. I also liked Harry's coat this morning, the royals have the best outdoor clothing that I have ever seen!

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  2. It doesn't look like this one has the asymmetrical hem in the stock photo. Looks like new earrings

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  3. Hm. I love the black dress and tnude shoes

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  4. Charlotte, you’re quicker than me; & I was there! haha You’re the best Royal blogger:)

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    1. Royal 👑 Watcher30 October 2018 at 09:26

      Charlotte is the quickest. Also faster than Australian news when they were here. I’m finding that very funny, and I’m enjoying it!! Well done Charlotte, you are the best!

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    2. Charlotte is just too much! To do that 3/4 of the way around the world, too! I've even seen her beat out some major UK sources too...and here she's on even turf! lol

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  5. Meghan seems to be wearing a brighter shade of lipstick than she normally wears. It is very pretty on her. Would love to see it more often.

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    1. I agree! I noticed the new lip color right away-it’s nice to see a change. And I love her earrings and shoes. I would love to have some of her clothes, jewelry, and accessories. I least I can live vicariously thru her and Kate.

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  6. Harry & Meghan (& Charlotte, for that matter!) must be knackered 😴

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    1. Royal 👑 Watcher30 October 2018 at 10:11

      I love the word knackered, Kiwi girl. I wonder if our American friends use it to describe being absolutely exhausted 😩? Harry looks a bit tired, Meghan found her second wind. The lipstick helps.💄

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    2. Lol, Royal 👑 Watcher, I love that word, too :) Lipstick most definitely helps! 😄 That shade looked lovely on Meghan.

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    3. This Arizona American has never heard the word knackered, my southern US grandmother (Texas and Oklahoma) would say she was "tuckered out" meaning she was tired. Kiwi Gal, I loved reading Essie Summers when I as a teen and young woman. I always wanted to visit NZ but never had the chance. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the photos of this visit to your wonderful land, and also that of the Cambridges.

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    4. Knackered is not really in use in the US. “Tuckered out” (like Arizona Girl mentioned) would be the equivalent. I have picked up knackered and many other phrases from the Irish half of my family, I can’t help when they come out sometimes :-).

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    5. Dee from Adelaide, Australia 🇦🇺30 October 2018 at 14:46

      Kiwi Girl, both you and I love that wonderful word 😂😂. I’ve spent about 12 weeks in the Land of the Long White Cloud this year. Survived a few big shakes (and a hotel fire in AKL). When I’m presenting my training workshops, I’ll unknowingly drop in some Aussie-ism’s and have the class in stitches. They’ll then throw in a Kiwi-ism and have me in fits. Having also lived in the US, I know they love our accent and “quaint and mysterious” words. Knackered is one of my personal favourites, when I think of some more, I’ll be sure to write them 😃😃. Our girl Meghan has been just wonderful on her tour to our lands. We’ve truly seen a Star being born. ❤️ (Maybe I should call myself Aussie Girl 🇦🇺)

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    6. Arizona Girl & Shannon, I love the term “tuckered out” as well. It’s cute! :) It’s funny the sayings we have in different cultures/parts of the world.
      Dee, you can truly call yourself a proud “Aussie Girl” ;)

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  7. Meghan looks lovely in this dress. I do believe it is the same as in the stock photo, it's just that walking up those steps the fabric has shifted whereas the model is standing still. Her earrings are very nice - something new? I'm happy to see that she has, on occasion, recently started wearing earrings that are a bit larger and can be seen better.

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  8. Do you have a link ti the post abiut the Polo march back in May where she already wore this dress, pl?

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    1. Hello, yes of course.

      http://madaboutmeghan.blogspot.com/2017/05/meghan-makes-her-polo-debut-as-she.html

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    2. Thank you.💕

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  9. Meghan est magnifique. Pas seulement physiquement mais pour toute sa bonne volonté et ce qu'elle arrive à faire.

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  10. All of your posts are just amazing Charlotte! I don’t know how you’ve kept up! The Duchess looks lovely today. I don’t know if there’s been any fashion ‘miss’ for me this tour but I know she and Harry have done a beautiful job connecting with people and highlighting important causes throughout the tour! Heather C Detroit MI

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    1. What a lovely comment, Heather! This tour has brought so much love & communities together :) Especially in today’s world - this was needed. It really reminds me of the impact Diana had on people.

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  11. Wow she looks stunning! LOVE THOSE EARRINGS 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
    I hope she's okay in Rotorua tomorrow- due to the geothermal activity there, the area stinks a lot like Sulfur. I went to Rotorua for 5 days last year when I was 12 weeks pregnant and I had to get the husband to pull over several times so I could throw up.
    The tree walk area wasn't at all bad (and oh so beautiful), rainbow springs was borderline and the city/ town centre stank bad. After a few days the smell did become Bareable.
    It's actually so funny, we went to Hells Gate in Rotorua which is a geothermal place where you can see the pools etc. we had parked the car and the husband opened the door and said "catch a whiff of---" and never got to finish the sentence because I threw up all over his clothes, shoes and the hire car and we needed to go back to the hotel and change. I actually carried a Vicks nasal inhaler and used that a lot while there 🙊🙊🙊
    This tour is definitely bringing back memories of my own early pregnancy visit in November last year! 🙂
    Will we see them depart for London on the 1st?

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    1. I'm hoping that we see them catching their flight and saying to goodbye to their hosts. Afterall, it's one more time to catch Meghan in perhaps something new!

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    2. Zora from Prague30 October 2018 at 19:36

      Thanks for sharing your story, Chrystal! I'm sure you'll never forget your days in Rotorua! 😄🤮😉
      Fingers crossed for Meghan!

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  12. Gorgeous as always! I do wish she would've worn the pearls that were gifted to her during this trip! Thank you Charlotte for all of these ah-mazing posts!

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  13. She and the PM do indeed seem to be like-minded. The pink lipstick and lovely looking earrings give her a different look tonight! Sometime when there's no Meghan news for weeks, Charlotte, I would love to revisit those incredible earrings she wore with the "deep pink" dress when they left Sydney.

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    1. Those pearl earrings were incredible!

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    2. And I think her style had opals, my personal favorite. Next to diamonds.

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  14. Charlotte, you really are a treasure! Your posts are just amazing; each & every one! As I have gone through some mental health issues of my own in the past couple of years, your blog has been a lifeline for me. I’m amazed at how much people have connected with Harry & Meghan on this tour & the causes that they have highlighted. Harry is lucky to have found someone so strong & supportive like Meghan. I couldn’t imagine anyone else to be so well suited to him! & Harry is a testament to both his mother & father; they did a great job raising him into the sensitive & caring man he has become. It’s such a pleasure to watch him grow, with Meghan by his side. I wish them all the happiness in the world & with their new addition to their family, things just keep getting better! x

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  15. Looks great. It’s funny how weird the human body is. Meghan can wear the dress from pre wedding but we all know stuff from earlier in tour probably doesn't fit anymore. It’s just so weird and also really cool all at the same time. But the dress is great and I am glad she had a reason to rewear.

    Charlotte, I know many have said, but you have done an outstanding job over the last few weeks. Not just with the terrific posts but managing all of the comments from all of the posts. I am sure people are still commenting on early posts so how you keep it all straight is crazy to me!

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    1. Katie C.H. It is amazing how differently clothes can fit but I also wonder if with this dress it might have been easy to let out the side seems to allow a bit more wiggle room before the tour started.

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    2. Katie, I agree. How can that dress fit? I wonder if she became slimmer from that polo outing to before her wedding (Kate did I believe). Hence recent items are becoming snug.

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  16. The Duchess and Duke “dress up” nicely. They look full of energy and lovely. Thanks, Charlotte for the video that captures the speeches, the activities and the atmosphere. Thanks also for the info and pic of the War Memorial.

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  17. I'm really glad to finally get to see this dress! I had not realized it was so long---it's really pretty.

    Those side-by-side photos of Meghan in the beige sheath next to the same dress in yellow really show how pregnant she is! No way she could have slipped that by the eagle-eyed viewers. :)

    And it seems she was so thin compared with the last few weeks---still feel bad I didn't believe all of you who said she was pregnant.

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  18. Lovely, simply lovely. I love that Meghan wears different style necklines. It makes all the difference in a dress regardless of having a specific color pallet that she favors. It gives her clothing a true statement look. Additionally, shuzzing the sleeve makes all the difference in the world be it a dress, sweater, jacket etc. A sleeve cut to the wrist on a regular basis is as boring as an A line dress worn all the time regardless of the price tag or designer label.

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  19. As a loyal U.S. reader who has never before commented, I want to add my voice to the many others thanking you, Charlotte, for the time and thought you put into both your blogs. I so appreciate the great background you provide on the royals, the places and organizations they visit, and of course the fashions. You have outdone yourself during this tour!
    I am particularly grateful for the positive tone of your blogs, especially at this time when our news feeds seem to be endlessly depressing. Waking up to a new post by you is always a much-needed bright spot in my day. Again, thanks so much, and wishing you a much deserved rest!

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  20. A very nice repeat she looks nice, love the earrings

    Silvia

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  21. So glad we got to see a better visual on the dress. I think it's lovely - so versatile. And can't wait for someone to ID the earrings. I think they are lovely along with the new shade of lipstick.

    I would love to see Meghan wear the pearl necklace she received for her departure tomorrow on the plane. I know it's not her style per se which is why a departure photo would work perfectly. They would have looked really lovely with the soft pink Brandon Maxwell dress and the Burberry coat yesterday afternoon.

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    1. I feel like not wearing the pearl necklace was a missed opportunity! Oh well, we might see it in the near future, hopefully :)

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  22. Love love love this look! Amazing.

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  23. love the shoes and the earrings

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  24. Just brilliant! so glad the Duchess and the PM connected so well ....but was I the only one that was cringing at the nude suede shoes on the damp streets?? Been there, done that, paid the price. I hope its not the last we see of them, but it might be... :(
    Thanks again Charlotte for everything, as always. I don't know how you are doing it... Think we need to put a collection together to buy you a holiday after all this!

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  25. The earrings--is that Emily Mortimer the actress by any chance? She is one of my favorites of the younger group of British actresses.

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  26. Love the dress, and Meghan looks beautiful in it. They both are terrific with children. In Charlotte’s previous post, I was captivated how Meghan asked the little girl’s name, Zoe, and then promised to name the toy after her. How marvelous.

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  27. i love this whole outfit especially those earrings. the dress is very chic not just anyone could pull it off her hair and makeup is gorgeous

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  28. Meghan looked great and I think their first tour went well. I so enjoyed reading about it everyday. As far as her fashion choices, very tasteful and polished. Lots and lots of navy. I'm pretty sure she laid out all of her clothes and then said, "Great! I need one pair of shoes that are NAVY." HAHA....I do love navy, but I'm a bit over it for now.

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  29. Charlotte!! You have covered this tour beautifully! So many events, so many outfits at so many locations for so many causes!! I’ve been educated and entertained!! Of course, Meghan looked gorgeous and at ease, and I expect that to continue throughout her life. But YOU have truly been the star! Thank you for everything and all your hard work! I really appreciate it!

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    1. Annette New Zealand2 November 2018 at 22:06

      I agree and thank goodness Charlotte ensures that we don't overstep the mark like the current disgraceful kerfuffle now playing out in some of the popular press about Meghan's bare feet. Comments about aspects of anyone's physical appearance should be totally out of order. Its like the remarks about the Duchess of York's weight in the past. These photos and comments inevitably cause embarrassment and pain and the perpetrators know this. I am pleased Charlotte never stoops to publishing this sort of thing. Thankyou for all your efforts to explain the really important aspects of royal tours. Your research fosters greater understanding of other cultures and customs which can only be beneficial.

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  30. It's going to be hard to return to the regular posts and not this daily adventure with the Duke and Duchess! BTW, I just saw that it was called the autumn tour, but down under it's SPRING! :-)

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