Royal Tour, Day 13: Meghan and Harry leave Australia for New Zealand

NEARLY two weeks since they touched down in Sydney and announced they were expecting their first child, Harry and Meghan have finished their royal tour of Australia, flying out just after 10am today.

The royal couple arrived at Sydney Airport just before 10am this morning, greeting a handful of dignitaries before boarding the New Zealand Airforce plane.

A strong wind whipped over the tarmac as Meghan and Harry said farewell to officials before the prince gave everyone a thumbs.

The royal couple then climbed the stairs holding hands with Meghan giving a slight wave as she tried to hold down her hair in the strong breeze.

Immediately after the royal couple’s final wave to their Aussie fans, the door of the NZ Airforce 757 closed and the plane began its taxi down the runway.

The Duke and Duchess will fly on a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight to Wellington with the Kiwi Invictus team.

The athletes boarded the plane just after 9am while Harry and Meghan’s motorcade made its way to the airport.

Teams of police with sniffer dogs were seen carrying out security sweeps on the fringes of Sydney airport.

Aides were spotted earlier this morning carrying a copy of The Sunday Telegraph onto the royals’ plane.

Upon arrival in Wellington, the couple will receive a Ceremony of Welcome which will include a haka.

They’ll then lay a wreath at Pukeahu National War Memorial before meeting meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

After their sit down with Ms Ardern, the couple will attend a reception hosted by the Governer General of New Zealand before celebrating the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage.

New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote.

Neither the NSW Premier nor the Prime Minister was there to farewell Harry and Meghan, but they were represented respectively by state housing minister Anthony Roberts and Federal MP Julian Leeser.

Colonel Michael Miller will say goodbye to the Duke and Duchess on behalf of the NSW governor, David Hurley.

With her visibly blooming royal bump, the Duchess of Sussex has managed to keep up with most of the 60 or more engagements on a hectic visit, greeted by enthusiastic crowds from the bush to the Pacific Islands.

The royal couple will spend three full days in New Zealand.

Harry and Meghan will tread a well beaten path by royal family members, visiting Wellington, Auckland and Rotorua which is known for its thermal springs.

The Duke and Duchess will leave New Zealand on Thursday and are expected to fly home to the UK to await the birth of their baby.

The royal couple attended the Invictus Games closing ceremony last night where Meghan stole the show with a “very personal” speech to the 12,000-strong crowd.

The beaming Duchess Of Sussex smiled and took to the stage with an easy confidence as she addressed the crowd at Qudos Bank Arena — her only speech in Australia while on the royal tour.

“It has been such an honour being here, supporting you and supporting my husband at the Invictus Games which he started four years ago,” she said to cheers.

The 37-year-old mum-to-be spoke passionately about the “camaraderie and close-knit sense of community” of the Games, before opening up to the crowd.

“On a very personal note I want to thank you all for welcoming me into the Invictus family,” she said.

“I’m not sure if many of you know this but a few years ago, before I met my husband, I had the incredible honour of meeting troops deployed all over the world from the UK, Afghanistan and several other countries.

“In travelling to these military bases, I was given a very special glimpse into the lives of those who serve our countries. I was able to see the unshakeable bond between servicemen and women on the ground together, but at the same time to feel the palpable longing for family and friends while deployed. Once home, the need for that anchor of support from loved ones, especially given how much it accelerates recovery and rebilltation is immeasurable. I’ve been reminded of those memories here.”

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