Like all good country guests, Meghan didn't show up empty handed when visiting a drought-affected farm near Dubbo.
She presented the Woodley family with a loaf of banana bread she had baked in the kitchens of Admiralty House on Tuesday night.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex toured Mountain View farm, 25km from the central NSW city, to learn first hand the impact the drought has had on farmers.
Prince Harry, in particular, took a keen interest in the plight of those who work the land.
The 3000ha farm, which was worked by third generation farmers Margaret and Richard Woodley, until they retired, has had to destock its White Suffolk ewes, the 1400 they were running before the drought, now reduced to 250 stud ewes.
The Duke and Duchess fed cattle hay and cotton seed, and heard how the farm has had to bring in hay from as far away as South Australia.
Elaine Woodley, who now farms the land with her husband Scott and daughter, Laura, said Meghan had told them how sorry she was to learn of the plight of farmers.
Although rain was forecast for the day, only a few drops fell while they were at the farm.
With galahs flying overhead and clouds gathering, the couple inspected part of the flock of ewes and fed the cattle before heading for a tea, baked by the Wongarbon CWA..
The duchess, who is four months, made a beeline for little Ruby Carroll, 13 months, and chatted animatedly with her mother, Emily.
"She told us that Ruby is very cute and said she is doing really well with her pregnancy," Ms Carroll said.
"They both laughed when Ruby wanted to walk off instead of playing nicely, but she also spoke about how sad she was about the numbers of people affected by the drought."
Pip Job NSW Drought Coordinator and National Rural Woman of the Year and a beef cattle producer near Dubbo showed the couple graphs of the rainfall and explained how difficult it is to get hay.
Although Dubbo is green from a rainfall of 50mm two weeks ago, the land will soon turn brown if more rain doesn't soon fall.
Scott Woodley said: "We've never know it as bad as this but we will get through it."
Australian Associated Press
