They came. They saw. They charmed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and all royalists, should be pleased with their successful visit downunder. The couple handled their duties through Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand with aplomb.
Along the way they spurred excitement and even inspiration. They engaged with everyone they met, from little children to the elderly. They delighted many.
You would have to be a hardened curmudgeon not to begrudge royal followers and Harry and Meghan fans their moments of joy. Between the screamers, the smilers and those holding mobile phone high in hope of "the picture'', there were plenty out to catch a glimpse or more.
Meanwhile, those not so dedicated could follow proceedings through saturation - perhaps at times even over the top - publicity.
Being a prince might be just part of the lottery of birth. And being a princess, in this instance, is a matter of marriage. The centuries when divine authenticity was bestowed on kings and their offspring have surely long gone.
But even those with egalitarian tendencies should be able to appreciate the symbolic and legal place of kings or queens in constitutional monarchies such as New Zealand.
Our political system, with Queen Elizabeth II as titular head, may not be perfect. Nevertheless, it has worked reasonably well, and other democratic systems are no better.
That royal pedestal is a good platform for royal celebrity. Human beings look to, and are sometimes obsessed with, celebrities. We are social creatures, and psychologists suggest we have evolved so that it is beneficial to pay attention to the people at the top.
If that adds to people's enjoyment, if it is a harmless distraction from the worries of life, then why not?
Although the duke is only sixth in line to the Throne, he and the duchess are one of the world's premier celebrity couples.
The duke is the son of one of the greatest of history's celebrities, Diana Spencer, and who can forget the heart-wrenching sight of him as a boy walking behind his mother's coffin.
The duke has also had a far from boring life, even tinged with a minor black mark or two.
He is naturally friendly and articulate and, these days, knows how to enchant and how to say and do the right things.
How apt in this modern world that he should marry an actress. The duchess may not quite be A-list, but she suits up well and is, of course, so photogenic, "baby bump'' and all. In the 21st century, it adds to the magic that her mother is African-American.
The busy visit of this wealthy power couple may have cost the taxpayer up to $1million. In this day and age, that is a reasonable cost for the interest and pleasure they brought, as well as the focus they encouraged on issues such as women's suffrage, mental health, the environment and the Invictus Games.
While the duke and duchess may not have made it south of Nelson, the country as a whole has been able to enjoy their four-day visit.
The focus on them was a pleasant change from the woes of the world.
Haere ra from Aotearoa.
