Meghan Markle is 'tired and running on adrenaline'

The Duchess of Sussex is “running on adrenaline” as she undertakes her gruelling first major tour while pregnant, she has disclosed, saying she is feeling “pretty well so far”.

The Duchess, who is expecting her first baby in April, said she had been feeling “a bit tired”, but planning to go ahead with all 76 engagements of the 16 day tour.

Visiting Mountain View farm to learn about the devastating Australian drought, the Duke and Duchess were hosted by the Woodley family, who have been farming there for five generations.

The first member of its sixth generation, 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 toddler’s mother Emily Carroll, 33, about her own pregnancy.

“They both had a little tickle with her [Ruby],” Mrs Carroll said. “She’s normally in bed at 10.30am but we had to stay up for this. She’s done so well.

“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?”

She added: “They’re both great with kids.”

The family, which gather at the farm for teas and long lunches regularly, were impressed with the Duchess’ gift of banana bread, baked at Admiralty House in Sydney last night.

“She said if you go to someone’s house you always bring something, so she did. 

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 cross breed 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.

The couple spend around five minutes in the field, tipping out food for the cows and watching them at.

As the left the farm, the heavens opened for the first downpour of rain in three weeks. Kate Woodley said the farm had “barely any rain for seven or eight months”.

This story first appeared on New Idea.