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 The prince charmed the crowd at a picnic in the town's main
park, standing at a podium in pouring rain with Meghan holding
an umbrella over him, on the second day of their Pacific tour,
which takes in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.
"The rain is a gift!" Prince Harry told the thousands who had
come out to see the royal couple in Dubbo, about 300 km (185
miles) northwest of Sydney.
They had earlier visited a farm hit by the drought and Harry
recalled his own stay on an Australian farm 15 years ago, where
he said he was chased by countless cattle and perfected the
Aussie salute of swatting flies.
"You are the salt of the earth. Honest, hard-working, and as
tough as they come," Harry said.
In an issue close to his heart, he urged those facing mental
health problems due to the tough times plaguing rural Australia
to seek help.
"You are all in this together and, if I may say, personally, we
are all in this together - because asking for help was one of
the best decisions that I ever made. You will be continually
amazed how life changes for the better," he said to cheers and
applause.
The royal couple's visit to Australia coincides with the
Invictus Games in Sydney from Oct. 20-27. The games, founded by
Harry, are an international paralympic-style event that aims to
lift the spirits of wounded military veterans.
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A 5-year-old boy earlier stole the show in a long line of school
children who met the royals at Dubbo airport.
Luke Vincent, who has Down Syndrome and adores Santa Claus, threw
his arms around Meghan when she knelt down to greet him and tugged
at Harry's beard and patted him on the head when the prince hugged
the boy.
Meghan, who is expecting the royal couple's first child in the
northern spring, wore skinny black jeans, a white shirt, long gray
jacket and black boots with her hair tied back in a pony tail.
Prince Harry and Meghan, on their first international tour since
marrying in May, also visited the Royal Flying Doctor Service in
Dubbo.
The medical service was anointed as "royal" in 1955 after Queen
Elizabeth, Harry's grandmother, visited Australia.
(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Paul Tait)
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