Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Spotlight Military Veterans at Awards Ceremony

Outside London’s Mansion House venue, all eyes were on Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan as the dozens of cameras clicked away for their arrival at one of their final royal engagements.

But inside this year’s Endeavour Fund Awards, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did all they could to ensure that the night—which celebrates the achievements of wounded, injured, and sick military personnel—was not about them.

Arriving at the evening ceremony, Harry quickly put the focus back on the servicemen and servicewomen who have spent the past year taking part in remarkable sporting and adventure challenges. “This is all about you guys!” he told wife of rowing marine Lee Spencer, Claire, during a reception for guests.

Both Harry and Meghan handed out awards at the annual ceremony, which was hosted by former Invictus Games medalist JJ Chalmers. The duchess was first to announce the Celebrating Excellence prize, honoring Guinness World Record holder Lee Spencer, who became the world’s first physically disabled person to row from Europe to South America solo and unsupported.

“It’s very nice to be back,” Meghan said of her return to the U.K., adding that she and Harry carried out their judging commitments from their Canada home. “It’s the most inspiring space … so I will say when we were watching the videos all the way from Canada we were like, ‘Who are we going to choose?’”

Prince Harry was on-hand to present the Henry Worsley Award to veteran Tom Oates, who is overcoming severe PTSD to dedicate his life to helping others through deptherapy—a specially adapted scuba diving program for injured military personnel and former members of the British Armed Forces.

“Meghan and I are so happy to be back here with you, to celebrate each and every one of you for your achievements, your service, and your resilience,” Harry, who served 10 years in the army, said in a speech. “For some, the military community represents a brotherhood or sisterhood that no other organization can provide, and for others, it’s a way of life which you never want to leave. For a lot of us, it’s both. Being able to serve Queen and Country is something we all are rightly proud of, and it never leaves us. Once served, always serving!”

The couple were left open-mouthed when the ceremony’s first winner, Danny Holland, was given the Recognizing Achievement Award for his success as a driver for “Mission Motorsport.” Holland, who has overcome mental health issues after being injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, got down on bended knee as he asked his “missus” for her hand in marriage. Both Harry and Meghan got up to cheer as the the audience applauded.

Since its 2012 launch, The Endeavour Fund has supported 108 projects with over $3.8 million in grants that has assisted over 6,000 servicemembers with opportunities to rediscover self-belief and fighting spirit through physical challenges.

As part of their agreement to step away from royal duties, Harry’s military appointments have been put on hold, but during his speech the duke reinforced his commitment to working with his patronages and organizations such as the Endeavour Fund. “[The fund] came from seeing the gaping hole that can be left after taking off that uniform,” he explained. “I firmly believe that there is an even greater future ahead. Our ambition is to build on what has been achieved—to expand the Endeavour Fund further so that its impact can be felt around the world.”

Harry’s speech coincided with an announcement that the Endeavour Fund will be working much more closely with the Invictus Games in the future. On Wednesday, March 4, Harry privately attended an Invictus Games Foundation and Royal Society evening reception after the two organizations hosted a conference on the future of trauma recovery earlier in the day. Leading figures from academia, industry, the NHS, armed forces, and voluntary sector came together for the one-day event.

Source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/

Who Is Meghan?

The Duchess of Sussex, born Meghan Markle, married Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in May 2018. The couple’s official residence is Kensington Palace. As well as undertaking royal duties in support of The Queen, both in the UK and overseas, The Duchess devotes her time to supporting a number of charities and organisations. From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work. Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert that had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid. Her Royal Highness also volunteered at a soup kitchen in Skid Row, Los Angeles from the age of 13-17. She continued to volunteer at the soup kitchen when she would return home to Los Angeles until the age of 22….Continue Reading…

Charities & Patronages

The Royal Foundation
Since: May 2018 – June 2019
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is the Patrons’ primary charitable vehicle, and hopes to become a leading philanthropic investor, effectively using its time and resources to create lasting change in targeted areas and geographies, based on need and on the interests of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Foundation will seek to invest in, or partner with, organisations with proven impact, using its profile and leverage to create a multiplier effect in resources, outcomes and knowledge.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
National Theatre
Since: January 2019
The National Theatre’s mission is to make world-class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring. And to make it for everyone. They aim to reach the widest possible audience, to be inclusive and diverse, and as national as possible. With a broad range of productions in London and across the UK. The National puts some of the nation’s leading artists on the world stage, with productions playing on Broadway and touring across the globe.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Since: January 2019
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s first international university network, and is the only accredited organisation representing higher education across the Commonwealth. The ACU manages international scholarship schemes (including the UK government’s three major scholarship programmes and The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships), convene universities to address key policy challenges such as gender and equity, climate resilience, and peace and reconciliation, and promote the role of universities in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Smart Works
Since: January 2019
Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women in need. Women are referred to Smart Works from organisations such as job centres, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Mayhew
Since: January 2019
Funded entirely by public donations Mayhew aims to promote animal welfare by delivering a broad range of community-based veterinary, care and education services in the UK and overseas. By recognizing that animal welfare issues and social welfare issues are linked Mayhew works to protect the bond vulnerable people, the elderly, the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues have with their animals. And by taking their educational initiatives out to the community they have a better chance of helping prevent cases of neglect, abandonment and cruelty.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust
Since: March 2019
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust exists to champion, fund and connect young leaders around the world who are driving positive social change, serving their communities and providing hope, work and self-employment opportunities for others. As Vice-President of the Trust Meghan will highlight the Trust’s partnerships with young people across the Commonwealth, and in particular its work supporting women and girls.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts

Projects

‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ Cookbook
After working with the women of Hubb Community Kitchen The Duchess of Sussex suggested the idea of a charity cookbook that celebrates the power of cooking to bring people together. Supported by The Royal Foundation and published by Penguin Random House companies, ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ showcases over 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. Since the Together cookbook has been published, it has sold 130,000 copies worldwide. The resulting funds means the kitchen has been completely refurbished and is now open seven days a week

Smart Works Charity Capsule Collection
After working quietly with Smart Works for over a year The Duchess became aware of the difficulty of matching up the perfect work attire due to a range of mismatched colors and sizing. It was revealed in July 2019 that Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw, and designer Misha Nonoo would team up together to design a capsule collection of work wear clothing for the underprivileged women trying to secure employment. They will follow the “one-for-one model” model where an item from the collection purchased is an item donated to the Smart Works Charity.

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