It took Prince Harry and Meghan only minutes to capture the hearts of Dubbo locals.
The couple landed on Wednesday morning in Dubbo – one of the regions hard hit by the drought - for a morale-lifting visit.
The couple were greeted by officials, including NSW Police Minister and member for Dubbo Troy Grant and Mayor Ben Shields.
Then, holding hands, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked across to the children from each of the region's schools and spent several minutes chatting with them.
One young royal fan melted the hearts of onlookers when he embraced the duke and duchess after presenting Meghan with flowers.
After a little encouragement from Meghan, five-year-old Luke Vincent from Buninyong Public School gave her a hug then embraced Harry, pulling on his stubble and playing with his hair.
Daniella Clews,12, and Sovanah Doherty, 11 from Dubbo West School also had hugs from the couple.
“I am shaking, it was amazing, I am speechless,” Sovanah said afterwards.
Daniella said it was the best day of her life.
“Meghan just put her arms out to me," she said.
Meghan was wearing black skinny pants, an untucked white shirt and checked blazer, with her hair pulled back in a pony tail. Harry was equally casual in pants and a shirt.
Their first official engagement in Dubbo is at the dedication of a new plane for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Little girls sporting glittering tiaras, older women clutching bouquets of flowers and the odd battered Akubra made up the crowd at the hangar.
The royal couple will spend their day in Dubbo, also visiting a drought-stricken farm and a local school.
They will also meet residents for a community picnic at a park in the regional city.
Despite most of the area being in the middle of one of the worst droughts NSW has seen, rain is forecast for most of Wednesday.
Harry carried the two Akubra hats - wedding presents from Australia - that Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove presented to them on Tuesday.
They had a perfect start to their 16-day visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand in Sydney on Tuesday.
The Dubbo stop is part of a jam-packed schedule of 76 engagements across 16 days with the royals visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland's Fraser Island as well as Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
AAP