Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tour: Best photos from royal trip Down Under as it draws to a close with Maori ceremony in New Zealand

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex emerged hand-in-hand from a New Zealand forest today as they wrapped up the last of 76 engagements on their marathon Pacific tour.

The couple had been exploring the Redwoods Tree Walk at Rotorua on New Zealand’s north island at the end of the 16th day of their trip, which has also seen them visit Australia, Fiji and Tonga.

After walking along a 700m-long walkway of suspension bridges between 117-year-old redwood trees, Prince Harry said: “It’s been great, thanks guys!” before he and Meghan headed for the motorcade of cars waiting to take them back to Auckland.

Earlier a two-year-old crept through the railings during the final tour walkabout - and was rewarded with a hug from the duchess.

The royal couple donned Maori cloaks at a ceremony in their final day
PA

Catalina Rivera and her mother Mercedes were among the well-wishers at Rotorua’s Government Gardens, having moved to New Zealand 10 months ago from El Salvador.

Mercedes, who is eight months’ pregnant, said: “Meghan said that she (Catalina) was beautiful, and asked her for a hug.

“We were trying to mime hugging in the background.

“We were just so excited to see her.”

The day started with the pair being given Maori cloaks - or Korowai - during a visit to the village of Ohinemutu.

Meghan’s Korowai was custom created for her visit by Norma Sturley, 66, an elder of the Ngati Whakaue tribe. She wore it over her outfit of a Stella McCartney dress teamed with a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes.

Prince Harry greets a well-wisher on their last walkabout of the trip
AFP/Getty Images

The Korowai designs were inspired by the coat of arms for the Sussexes, featuring silk in blue, gold, white and red.

The duke and duchess, who are expecting their first child in the spring, then headed into the Tamatekapua Meeting House after a traditional powhiri welcome in the courtyard.

There the duke was handed a carved Maori weapon known as a tewhatewha which has a point at one end and an axe at the other.

As it was passed over, Trevor Maxwell, of the local district council, said: “I am sure you are going to Twickenham when the All Blacks play England on November 11 - make sure you don’t take that.”

They have completed 76 engagements in total on the 16-day trip
AFP/Getty Images

The ceremony was conducted in Maori - as Harry and Meghan were being treated like “one of their own” - with Monty Morrison, also from the council, only breaking into English once, when he looked at the duchess and said “little bump” to laughter.

The duke spoke for around a minute in Maori and brought smiles from his hosts when he used the word “whaiaipo”, or sweetheart.

He said: “Thank you for the beautiful cloak you have so kindly gifted to myself and the duchess.

“We appreciate the skill of the weavers who made it, and the aroha (love) that has gone into its creation.

Harry and Meghan tour Fraser Island

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“This cloak is a taonga (treasure) that will be cherished in our family.”

The couple then headed to a kiwi breeding programme at the Rainbow Springs centre where they had the chance to name two chicks, choosing tihei, meaning sneeze of life, and koha, meaning gift.

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