A couple that braves the rain together, sticks together.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle braved the rainy skies in Dubbo, Australia during their second day of their royal tour through the region. After struggling with a drought over the past two years, Dubbo experienced heavy rainfalls while the royal couple was in attendance at a picnic at Victoria Park to celebrate community spirit in the region.
While Harry did his best to keep his wife, who is expecting the couple’s first child this spring, sheltered from the rain, royal duty called and the prince had to surrender the umbrella to his wife so she would stay dry.
Showing that the two royals are the perfect team, Meghan walked on stage and insisted on returning the favor to her husband, holding the umbrella above him as he spoke to the crowd, E! News reports.
Dubbo’s Mayor Ben Shields offered Harry his umbrella, but he said, “It’s all right, I’ve got my wife.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make it rain in a drought https://t.co/3EGdkSJG9k pic.twitter.com/XhSUV18wfA
— New York Post (@nypost) October 18, 2018
Aww! Harry and Meghan are just the sweetest couple to ever grace this planet, and are seriously some major couple goals.
“Our region has been hit by a terrible drought so we are very pleased that you can bring that terrible English weather here with you,” the mayor joked before welcoming Harry.
According to PEOPLE, Harry praised the people of Australia and the people of Dubbo in his speech, saying “you are the salt of the earth, honest, hardworking and as tough as they come and that resilience, sense of humor and commitment to the land are the qualities that make you unique.”
While joking about the rain, like the mayor, Harry pointed out the seriousness of the drought, saying, “I know that life has not been easy. You have just lived through two years of drought. And despite recent welcome rain, it’s going to take a lot more, and a long time, to recover.”
Harry, who has been very open about his struggles with mental health, also addressed a very serious impact of the drought: an increased suicide rate among young males living in rural areas.
“It must be hard not to lose hope when you endure so many dry months end on end knowing that you are powerless to do anything about it,” Harry said. “We know that suicide rates in rural and remote areas are greater than in urban populations and this may especially be true among young men in remote regions.”
“But outside all of that, here’s what I also know. You are one huge community and with that comes an unparalleled level of internal support and understanding,” Harry continued, adding that it is imperative that those that need help ask for it.
“You need to know a part of being strong and tough is having the courage to ask for help when you need it. You must not silently suffer.”
Addressing his own experience with mental health, Harry added, “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 at how life changes for the better.”
Harry and Meghan’s love for each other, and for people around the world, is just so touching.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be continuing on their royal tour, which is meant to “focus on youth leadership, and projects being undertaken by young people to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the region,” the palace said in a statement.