Monday 29 October 2018

Meghan in Karen Walker & J Crew for Auckland Arrival & The Royals Meet a Very Special Young Woman

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Auckland for the penultimate day of their first joint Commonwealth tour.


The day began with a visit the North Shore to dedicate a 20 hectare area of the Carol Whaley native bush to The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. The event was organised by the QEII National Trust - the New Zealand link to the QCC. Their mission is to partner with landowners to protect special places on private land for the benefit of present and future generations.


They received an official greeting from QEII National Trust board member Gina Solomon.


The rainy weather didn't deter students from delivering a terrific musical performance.


What better way to start the event than with a spot of Welly Wanging? Mike Jebesen from the QEII National Trust said: "We wanted to give the Royal couple a taste of rural New Zealand, and there’s nothing more quintessentially Kiwi than a gumboot throw!. I know gumboot throws are something usually associated with Taihape, but rest assured, we have the blessing of Andrew Watson, Mayor of Rangitikei, to run this competition. Andy was pleased to hear that even though the couple couldn’t make it to Taihape, that gumboots would feature in the royal itinerary."


In the end, the Duchess was victorious and the red team won.


When awarded the Gumboot Trophy, Meghan said to the children “You should put it in your school. Now that’ll make a show and tell!”


The Duke and Duchess were joined by a group of children from environmental education group Trees of Survival to plant trees.


They helped plant various trees, including a puriri tree (native to the North Island) and a kōwhai tree. Omid Scobie noted: "Duchess Meghan planted a New Zealand kōwhai tree, which was one of the distinctive flora she had representing the Commonwealth country on her wedding veil. It produces bright yellow flowers in spring and is a favourite food of tree geckos, tui, bellbird and kererū pigeons."


During a speech Prince Harry said: "My wife and I are delighted to be here at the opening of this covenant, which will form part of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy network. 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.”


Harry and Meghan unveil the plaque.


A closer look at the plaque. Fun fact: the post is an old railway sleeper.


Harry and Meghan were presented with a beautiful NZ merino Swandri blanket and a pair of gumboots for Baby Sussex.


Earlier this morning, Harry and Meghan had the privilege of meeting Eva McGauley. Wellingtonian Eva was invited to attend the Prime Minister's Reception with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Auckland. Unfortunately doctors orders mean Eva is unable to fly today but when the Royal couple heard her story, they invited her for a quick catch-up at Government House instead. Below Eva and her mum Kate.


Eva was greeted with hugs by Harry and Meghan.


Speaking about the meeting on her Instagram page: Eva said: "I am so honoured and thankful to have been invited to Government House to meet with Meghan and Harry this morning!!! They are such kind down to earth people who were really interested in the work Evas Wish does. We were welcomed so warmly by Dame Patsy Reedy and Sir David Gascoigne into their lovely home and it was one of the most memorable and wonderful moments of my life. Thank you so much to everyone who made this happen."


The Duke and Duchess have met an immense number of young inspirational people in New Zealand and brought their stories to a global audience. Eva is the personification of inspirational, bravery, selflessness and positivity. Read Eva's story in her own words:

'I grew up in a tight knit family with four people who served as my “co-parents.” My mum, my grandmother, my great-aunt and my godfather. All of whom are political, opinionated and feminists. That’s not to say their political views lineup, in fact it is quite the opposite! They fit perfectly on a spectrum of far left, left, right and further right - Christmas dinners can heat up very quickly! They differ in political stance, religion and traditions but they all agree on one thing - that love is one of life's greatest gifts. This lesson has stuck with me and plays out in different situations daily. I truly believe that recognising the power of love and how precious it is makes you a better, kinder human being.
When I arrived at high school I had lost my appetite for learning a bit. I am very lucky to mainly have had amazing teachers through all my years at school but in the year before high school I began to lose my interest. This was quickly rectified when I arrived at Wellington High School. I once again found myself surrounded by teachers who challenged me and genuinely wanted me to do my best. I had started to warm up to them but I remember the exact afternoon that it all clicked into place again. 
It was the afternoon I went to my school Feminist club for the first time. My friends and I went along and awkwardly sat in the back not knowing what to expect and found ourselves being brought into a world of amazing, strong women and men who believed that what we thought and said had value. We also began to learn about some of the horrors of this world and I became determined to fix them. 
Due to a happy mistake, I became involved with Wellington Rape Crisis. That first Feminist club meeting was right at the end of the school term and we wanted to feel empowered like that again, so we went along to a fundraiser at a local church for Wellington Rape Crisis. It was a cupcake baking and craft evening. As we entered the event we gave $5 and wrote down our emails. I thought I was paying to be let through the door but it turned out I had just signed up to become a fully fledged member of Wellington Rape Crisis.
In my second year of high school I turned fifteen and it was around then, in the August of 2014, that I began to feel sick. The glands in my neck began to swell and I became tired. At first I was misdiagnosed with glandular fever, a viral illness that makes you feel constantly exhausted. By the end of the school year it was starting to become hard to focus and I only made it in for 3 days of the last two weeks of term. ​By late January 2015 I could barely get out of bed and the pain was unbearable. Eventually we went to a different doctor who took one look at me and sent me to hospital. We went into Wellington Hospital on the 4th of February 2015 and by the 5th we knew it was cancer and were in our new home; CHOC - Christchurch hospitals Child Hematology and Oncology Centre. 
​Around now was when the idea for EvasWish surfaced. It was just a spark at first, an idea existing purely in my subconscious and it wasn’t until one day when I was in the car with a dear friend of mine, Wellington City Councillor Simon Woolf, that it became something more. We were at a red light when he asked me the usual question of “What do you want to do?” but the way he asked it was different to most so I replied “Change the world.” He then told me to answer with more detail before the light turned green. I ummed and panicked before suddenly blurting out something along the lines of “I want New Zealand to have an online messaging service for people affected by sexual violence.”

Evas Wish has raised $65,000 for initiatives to combat sexual violence and supporting those impacted by it. This year, Eva started a Bachelor of Arts majoring in political science at Wellington's Victoria University. If you would like to learn more about Evas wish or donate please click here.


The Duchess wore the £254 Fathom Jacket by New Zealand based designer Karen Walker. The dark navy piece is described as: "True to Karen Walker style, the Fathom Jacket blends masculine elements with a cropped, feminine fit. Cut in Salvador Suiting, a subtle check, this tailored design features peak lapels, single button fastening, front pockets and back vent. The perfect year-round jacket."


The Duchess wore a pair of J Crew Toothpick Jeans. It appears Meghan's pair are the charcoal wash (with thanks to What Meghan Wore). The jeans are described as: "Our toothpick jean + a higher rise = a nipped waist, great stretch and legs for miles—even without heels. Plus, they're super-flattering thanks to Perfecting Pockets that hold you in, lift you up and are really comfortable too." US readers can take 35% off a pair of the jeans with code FLASH.


It looks like Meghan wore the Lavender Hill Scoop Neck T-Shirt. We know the Duchess owns the piece in white.


Meghan accessorised with the Boh Runga Discologo earrings Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gifted her and her Tattoo Diamond Pendant by Jessica McCormick.


Meghan wore the Muck Boot Reign Wellies (with thanks to Meghan's Fashion). They are available at Amazon.

Meghan has changed into her Burberry trench and a Brandon Maxwell dress for the afternoon's events.


We'll see you shortly with a post covering those engagements!

40 comments:

  1. Well, I can vouch that the boots are unavailable in my size on Amazon!

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    1. Oh Bluhare, you make me laugh!
      Ditto on the Weismans Legend, not one to be had in sand color.

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    2. Hahaha!!! I am sure they don’t have my size either(a 5).

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    3. I found almost every size there.

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    4. They only had whole sizes and the size 8 was out and didnt know when they would be restocked. Didnt check any other size.

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    5. And I hardly ever go looking for things, us granny and katie. Figures the one time I do I'm already out of luck!

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  2. That's a lot of boot for her. :)

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  3. Ok I really love this kind of skinny jean. Skinny, but not so skinny that you feel like leg circulation is being cut off. Also more practical for sporting activities. This is an issue I run into myself -- I too like skinny jeans, but have a hard time finding the right degree of skinny. Sometimes I think it'll fit great and then I wash them and they've shrunk to super-skinny. So in other words: i want Meghan's jeans.

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    1. Just purchased the jeans. I won't look like Meghan in them, but hope I like them anyway.

      They sure ended up with some nice baby Sussex gifts from this tour. People have been so kind and generous to the couple.

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  4. Same here! Perhaps they will re-order.
    They look appropriately casual (except for Harry’s overcoat) and happy at a low- key, outdoor event.

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  6. Oh i love those casual wear hmm and i love the boots i hope they both have a green thumb

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  7. Ooh, I am torn. To say I LOVE a good blazer/jean combo is understating it a bit but I don’t think I love the way this blazer fits. The sleeves look to short to be full length but too long to be 3/4 length and I don’t I am sold on the length. But love the boots and jacket!

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    1. Oh my, I had not looked at the photos that closely, but they are an odd length. That would drive me insane if I was wearing.

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  8. I’m waiting at the barricades in Wynyard Quarter & I hope I get a glimpse of the pair! It’s not raining, which is a plus :D

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    1. Good luck!!!

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    2. Good luck kiwi gal. Can’t wait to hear about it.

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    3. Did you see them? Did you feel the earthquake?

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    4. Rhonda - Wisconsin30 October 2018 at 03:41

      Good Luck Kiwi Gal!! Keeping my fingers crossed you get to see/meet them both!!!!

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    5. That's fantastic! Can't wait to hear your report. :-)

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    6. I didn’t feel the earthquake, fortunately - eek! 6.2 is a bit of a biggie! But unfortunately, I only got see Harry waving from the car & Meghan smiling inside, as I mentioned below. I’m heading to the War Memorial Museum to see if I can catch them when they go to the reception later. Jacinda stayed behind to take selfies, which I thought was really nice :) There were a few excited children chanting “Harry & Meghan!” over & over lol & people with the biggest bunch of flowers I’ve ever seen... it was such a great atmosphere! I’m on a high (although I didn’t get to meet them) :D

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    7. Thank you so much for sharing Kiwi Gal. The atmosphere looked electric!

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    8. You’re very welcome! It was so much fun! I’m glad I could share some of my experience with you all 😀

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  9. Not sure whether it was felt in Auckland, most likely was, but they just got treated to an extra special part of New Zealand - a good shaky earthquake!

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  10. I got a video of them in the car! & I saw Meghan’s head lol

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  11. The Duke & Duchess of Sussex look appropriately dressed for a fun day of tree planting and gumboot throwing. Note, the Duke wearing an overcoat. I can appreciate the Queen’s Canopy project. Where I live, land development is causing the deers to come into the yards of homeowners to eat. Nice of the Duke and Duchess to meet Eva; what a story and what a cause. Eva said, love makes one a better kinder human being. Cute Gumboots for Baby Sussex. Thanks, Charlotte. I’ll catch up with the full post later, my bed time in the US.

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  12. I don't understand how she's wearing non-maternity jeans at this point in her pregnancy. Did she adjust them to have an elastic waistband?

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  13. Good luck, Kiwi Gal! Did you feel the earthquake? A 6.1 on West North Island between Wellington and Auckland.

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  14. this is such a fantastic tour im enjoying every moment! thanks for all your hard work Charlotte Meghan looks fab I love her necklace

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  15. Harry & Meghan caused an earthquake!

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  16. They just missed the earthquake we felt this afternoon in Wellington. I wonder if they get briefed on what to do in an earthquake situation?

    Today looks like a fun day out for them.

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  17. They look great. Lovely that they met with Eva McGauley.

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    1. That was lovely, Tedi.

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    2. Kiwi Gal--my comment seems to have gone missing (maybe I just missed seeing it) but I did wish you luck in your M&H plans. I
      also asked you yesterday if you had felt the earthquake. I have been keeping an eye on USGS maps. I'm sure the couple had been briefed about the possibility of an earthquake. I think earthquakes were still a big thing in SoCal when Meghan was a small child there in the 80's--which isn't necessarily an ideal time to experience them. I am sure she would have known just what to do.

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    3. Thanks for the luck, Anon! I wasn’t as lucky as some others but at least I did get to see a bit of them, which was worth it :) I’m sure H&M would’ve been briefed on what to do in the event of an earthquake & Meghan, being an LA native, must know the experience of being in one! 6.2 is quite big; hope we don’t get anymore big ones.

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  18. Congrats Kiwi Gal. Thanks for sharing.

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Welcome to Mad About Meghan! We do so look forward to reading your thoughts. Constructive, fair debate is always encouraged. Hateful, derogatory terms and insults are not welcome here. This space focuses on Harry and Meghan, not any other member of the Royal family. It's not the place to discuss politics either. Thank you for reading, we look forward to your comments :)