The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to have a "public walkabout" at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour this afternoon, and already one dedicated royalist family is on the scene - loaded down with flowers and a baby gift after showing up more than eight hours early.
"I brought a Buzzy Bee for their baby," said nine-year-old Emma, explaining that Harry and Meghan are he favourite royals, along with the Queen. "I can imagine a boy with orange hair."
She was joined by her sisters and her mum, Jenny, a resident of Auckland's eastern suburbs, who admitted that one of the reasons for showing up so early was to find a car park before the rest of the crowd shows up.
"My grandmother and my mother always took us along to see the Queen, and see Prince Charles," she explained. "We seem to have just carried on that tradition with our children."
With the newlyweds' royal tour of New Zealand ending tomorrow in Rotorua, this afternoon's appearance is likely the best opportunity for members of the public to see the couple. As a result, big crowds are expected today, said 1 NEWS reporter Nicole Bremner.
On an afternoon of memorable moments this was one of them, as Harry reached into the crowd to say thanks for the gift.
"This is a favourite spot for the royals," she said of the Viaduct. "We've had Prince Charles here, we've had Kate and Wills racing the America's Cup yachts off here in 2014."
Harry and Meghan are expected to arrive at the area around 3.55pm, following a busy schedule today that also includes the unveiling of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy - a native bush area on the North Shore -- and a visit with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to South Auckland children's charity Pillars.
The walkabout is scheduled to last 25 minutes. The couple does not have any follow-up events scheduled until 7pm, however, so it's feasible they might not be as rushed as they have been during other appearances this week.
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