The Duchess of Sussex has continued to win over the hearts of Aussies by taking to the kitchen and baking banana bread, as the royal couple sat down for tea with one of Dubbo’s farming families.
Instead of resting her feet after a busy first day on her first royal overseas tour, pregnant Meghan got to work in the kitchen of Admiralty House, creating the delicious baked-good which she shared with local farmers in the rural New South Wales city on Wednesday.
The banana bread was a greatly appreciated addition to the tasty spread of treats on offer at Mountain View Farm – where the Duke and Duchess spent time with the Woodley family – which included scones with jam and cream, chocolate cake, sandwiches and fresh fruit. Meghan also contributed a jar of Fortnum & Mason’s ‘Royal Blend’ tea.
According to one royal correspondent, who was lucky enough to taste the mouth-watering treat, the banana bread was slightly different to the usual recipe and contained chocolate chips and a hint of ginger.
The mother-to-be, 37, has been praised for her kind gesture, with many royal fans taking to Twitter to express their appreciation for Meghan and her down-to-earth nature.
“Her mother raised her right,” one person wrote. While a second said: “Stop it Megs-you’re making the rest of us look bad”. And a third added: “Is there a thing this woman can’t do ? Probably not.”
And this wasn’t the only thing that impressed royal fans about the Duchess’ public appearance on Tuesday, as she showcased her generous nature by carefully holding an umbrella over her husband Prince Harry’s head, to shield him from the pouring rain as he addressed Dubbo locals.
Showing no sign of discouragement, the Duchess beamed and nodded along with the prince’s words, as the 34-year-old praised “salt of the earth” regional Australians, who he described as “the backbone of the country”.
Members of the media were quick to notice the kind gesture, posting about the sweet moment on Twitter. “She carries her own coat, she bakes banana bread, she holds the umbrella for her man… Meghan Markle we are not worthy,” one journalist wrote.
The post received a flurry of attention from royal fans who were equally as impressed with Meghan’s actions.
“And they said Meghan was lucky to marry a prince, I think the prince was lucky to find her!” one person exclaimed. “Harry did great… she’s something else,” another added.
Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess were greeted by an array of local residents, politicians and school children, including one little boy who was lucky enough to steal a hug from the royal couple who looked totally bowled over by the adorable child’s boldness.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Luke Vincent, from Buninyong Public School, was the very last child to meet the couple, who are expecting their first child. Dressed in an adorable hat and a pair of goggles, Luke, who has Down’s syndrome, ran up to Prince Harry and immediately gave him an affectionate cuddle. He then presented Meghan with a lovely bunch of flowers and gave her a huge bear hug, before returning to her husband for a second cuddle, and a stroke of his ginger hair and beard.