Meghan Markle and Prince Harry drenched on tour of drought-stricken Australian town of Dubbo

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex brought the gift of rain to a drought-stricken Australian town on the latest stage of their tour - as pregnant Meghan admitted she is “running on adrenaline” during the gruelling trip.

Meghan, 37, who is expecting her first baby in the spring, said she had been feeling “a bit tired” but plans to go ahead with all 76 engagements of the 16 day visit to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

The couple flew to rural Dubbo, an hour’s flight north west from Sydney, to find out how locals are coping with two years of almost no rain.

However, the heavens opened for their arrival and one section of their programme at a school had to be abandoned as thunder and lightning struck.

In Dubbo’s Victoria Park where thousands had travelled hours for a “picnic party”, the couple got soaked and Meghan, 37, held an umbrella over her husband’s head as he addressed the crowds.

Describing the rain as a “gift”, he praised the resilience of the city and its people following the barren period.

He said: “You people are the salt of the earth, hard working and as tough as they come.I know that life has not been easy. You have just lived through two years of drought.”

To laughter from the crowd, he said: “Despite recent welcome rain, it is going to take a lot more and a long time to recover.

You are all the toughest people out there, the most persistent, the ones who can weather the storm or the drought.”

The royal couple also visited a farm near Dubbo, where they met the Woodleys, a five generation farming family.

Meghan brought along a loaf of banana bread, packed with chocolate chips and a touch of ginger, which she had cooked the previous night in the kitchen at Sydney’s Admiralty House, the mansion home of the Governor-General of Australia

Alice Hall, 25, gave it five stars - the highest accolade for baking in their family.

An aide said: “Meghan loves baking and just decided to take something along with her on the spur of the moment.”

The Duchess also brought a tin of Fortnum and Mason Royal Blend tea.

Before the royal couple had even left the cake was three-quarters eaten.

Benita Woodley, 20, whose parents Scott and Elaine currently farm the 3,000 acre property, declared it delicious: “It was such a nice and thoughtful thing for her to do. We are really touched.”

The youngest member of the Mountain View Farm family, 13-month-old Ruby Carroll, was the star of the show over tea in the garden, where the extended family gathered for a relaxed chat with the royal couple.

After making a fuss of Ruby, the Duchess spoke to the child’s mother Emily Carroll, 33, about her own pregnancy.

Mrs Carroll said: “Meghan told me that she’s feeling pretty good so far, which is great, and that she’s running on adrenaline.

“She said they’re doing 76 engagements in 16 days, with maybe one rest in the middle.

“She’s made for this royal business, isn’t she? They’re both great with kids.”

Earlier in the morning, the Woodley sisters had helped round up their cattle for the Duke and Duchess to feed, enticing them with hay on the back of a pick up truck.

The royal couple had gamely seized the heavy buckets of cotton seed to pour onto small piles of hay for the Angus cows and their Angus/Speckle Parks crossbreed calves.

The breeding cattle have suffered particularly in the drought, with hay and feed being imported from other parts of Australia to keep them going.

The cotton seed is particularly nutritious and high energy for them.

As the left the farm, the heavens opened for the first downpour of rain in three weeks.