Others wore royal fancy dress and there was even a specially brewed beer dubbed “Dubbo Royale”.

The prince and his US-born wife where met on Dubbo’s airport tarmac by gleeful school children waving Australian flags, before unveiling a new aircraft for the country’s Royal Flying Doctor Service at the local airport.

But the pair also stopped for a cuddle with five-year-old Luke Vincent, who was wearing school uniform and a blue-and-white cap as he nuzzled the duchess and affectionately rubbed the duke’s thinning ginger head.

The royal couple are in Dubbo – a historic town six hours’ drive from Sydney – to meet drought-stricken farmers, enjoy a family picnic and to tour a school that works with young indigenous Australians.

Harry and Meghan are following in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth who visited Dubbo in 1954.

A Dubbo bar went to great length to welcome the couple – who announced this week they were expecting a baby – by making a batch of “Dubbo Royale” beer.

The brew which combines an English-style lager with US West Coast hops, in tribute to the happy couple.

“It’s like a marriage in a beer can,” bar licensee Ryan Mackintosh told local publication the Daily Liberal.