Filed in Gallery Updates Royal Visit

November 06 – Visiting The Broom Farm Community Centre

On November 06, 2019 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a private visit to The Broom Farm Community Centre.

A post on Sussex Royal said: “The Duke and Duchess surprised their neighbours in Windsor at a coffee morning for military families in a community centre located in the heart of the Army housing estate. Every year during the month of November we pause to remember and honour all those who have served their country here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world. Their Royal Highnesses also wanted to show support for the families of service personnel who are currently deployed overseas.

As we lead up to Remembrance Sunday, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will join Her Majesty The Queen and other Members of the Royal Family at various commemoration events, including the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph.

During the visit yesterday, Their Royal Highnesses met with young families who shared their experiences as parents and as couples who are often apart from their loved ones for months at a time. A reminder that a life of service does not simply describe the person wearing the uniform, but the entire family.”

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Appearances & Engagements Photos > Engagements in 2019 > November 06 | Visiting The Broom Farm Community Centre

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Filed in Gallery Updates Royal Visit

Photos – The Duchess of Sussex Visits The Luminary Bakery

The Sussex Royal Instagram account revealed that the Duchess of Sussex made a private visit to The Luminary Bakery.

First featured in British Vogue’s ‘Forces For Change’ September issue that Meghan guest edited. The Luminary Bakery is a non profit bakery that uses baking as a tool to take women on a journey to employ ability and entrepreneurship, equipping them with transferable skills for the working world. Offering courses, work experience and paid employment within the bakery, empowering women to build their career. By investing in and releasing them to realize their dreams – through training, employment and community, they aim to break cycles of poverty, violence & disadvantage once and for all.

This visit coincides with a story for The Telegraph by journalist Bryony Gordon who followed The Duchess as she joined The Luminary Bakery for the opening of their new location which will enable the organisation to provide services, support and mentoring for four times the number of women. You can read the article here where Meghan talks about how vulnerability is one of humanity’s greatest strengths.

During her visit Meghan met with the women of the bakery who shared their emotional stories with her.

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Filed in Gallery Updates Royal Tour: South Africa Royal Visit

Photos & Roundup: October 02 – Royal Visit South Africa – Day 10

FROM SUSSEX ROYAL: In Tembisa, Johannesburg, today The Duke and Duchess visited to meet young entrepreneurs at the YES hub – a hive for creativity and social enterprise. Their visit was an amazing tour of the ingenuity and opportunity – seeing businesses that varied from food to essential sanitary products for local women.

During their visit, they were able to sample food from ‘Chef Mish’ – a local masterchef winner – which he makes at the site as part of his catering business and cafe. They then joined YES community members to take part in training and tests that will help them gain skills and find work.

On the third stop today, entrepreneur Moss showed The Duke and Duchess the organic produce he’s growing in the township with aquaponics – supplying local restaurants.

And finally, The Duke and Duchess met the women behind the amazing Blossom Care Solutions – who are making 80,000 sanitary pads every month for women in their community. They are 100% compostable, and provide an essential low-cost product for women and girls.

The Duchess has long campaigned on this issue and wrote in Time magazine in 2017, saying: “In communities all over the globe, young girls’ potential is being squandered because we are too shy to talk about the most natural thing in the world. To that I say: we need to push the conversation, mobilize policy making surrounding menstrual health initiatives, support organizations who foster girls’ education from the ground up, and within our own homes, we need to rise above our puritanical bashfulness when it comes to talking about menstruation.”

FROM SUSSEX ROYAL: Today as they near the end of #RoyalVisitSouthAfrica The Duke and Duchess have been able to spend time with Graça Machel – the politician, humanitarian, and international advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

Their Royal Highnesses were delighted to be able to meet Graça and her family, and talk about their shared passion for their work on equality and human rights.

Graça, who was married to former South African President and anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela, was made an honorary British Dame by Her Majesty The Queen for her contributions and services to human rights protection.

Appearances & Engagements Photos > South Africa Tour > October 02 |South Africa Tour – Day 10 – Set 1
Appearances & Engagements Photos > South Africa Tour > October 02 | South Africa Tour – Day 10 – Set 2

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Filed in Association of Commonwealth Universities Royal Tour Royal Tour: South Africa Royal Visit

Photos & Roundup: October 01 – Royal Visit South Africa – Day 9

On the final leg of The Duke and Duchesses tour of South Africa, The Duchess of Sussex travelled to Johannesburg for a number of education themed engagements.

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG: Meghan’s first stop was to the University of Johannesburg in her role as Patron of The Association of Commonwealth Universities. 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 Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships, and convenes universities to address key policy challenges such as gender and equity, climate resilience, and peace and reconciliation.

During her visit The Duchess of Sussex attended a round-table discussion at the University joining students and educators who openly discussed challenges for girls gaining access to university. Meghan also revealed three new gender grants for the University of Johannesburg, Stellenbosch University and the University of Western Cape. Of which the grant for Stellenbosch will fund a ‘unique campus walking route’ designed to make both men and women feel safer at university. Duchess Meghan also revealed four new Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships for students from Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria.

ACTIONAID: Next, The Duchess of Sussex visited a local school in Johannesburg to meet with representatives from ActionAid to discuss a range of issues including gender based and sexual violence in schools. Prince Charles is currently the Patron of ActionAid, a charity that is working to achieve social justice and gender equality, and working to eradicate poverty. Focusing specifically on women right’s which is a thread throughout their work. One of the projects Action Aid works with is the Teddy Bear Clinic, which provides essential support to children and families affected by domestic and sexual abuse. After the meeting with representatives The Duchess traveled privately to meet young girls who are being supported by ActionAid and The Teddy Bear Clinic.

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Appearances & Engagements Photos > South Africa Tour > October 01 | South Africa Tour – Day 9 – Set 1
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Filed in Gallery Updates Royal Tour Royal Tour: South Africa Royal Visit

Photos & Roundup: September 30 – Royal Visit South Africa – Day 8

On September 30, 2019 The Duchess of Sussex made a unannounced visit to Johannesburg’s Victoria Yards, a place for artisans and craftspeople to work and share their creations.

Meghan visited several organizations and small businesses including Sneakers 4 Change, an organization that collects and donates sneakers to those who are less fortunate and Young Bucks, a small business that makes books from recycled materials. During the stop, Meghan revealed that she used to teach a bookbinding class. At Sobae Frozen, a small business inspired by a desire to reduce food waste, The Duchess sampled flavors of vegan sherbet made from unused fruit from Victoria Yards.

The Duchess met Tshepo Jeanmaker, a local designer from Soweto who makes custom jeans,he revealed that he received a call from the British Embassy last month requesting he create a pair of jeans for Meghan. He also created a pair of overalls for Archie and was quite surprised that The Duchess picked them up herself.

Meghan also toured Delaney Studio with Contemporary artist James Delaney who works in paint, sculpture, charcoal and print from his studio at Victoria Yards. The Duchess also chatted with several craftsmen and artisans.

At the end of her visit, The Duchess was moved by the original poetry of Belita Andre, the winner of the Poetry Grandslam. In her reading she said: “The Maker’s Valley is a social and enterprise hub, a wave between my corner of the world and yours. Insisting that beyond the anchors of survival. How to make sure that everyone gets to shore, pass around an ocean of stars, not because our sleepless nights are equal but because our dreams are.”

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Appearances & Engagements Photos > South Africa Tour > September 30 | South Africa Tour – Day 8 – Set 1

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Photos & Roundup: September 26 – Royal Visit South Africa – Day 4
Filed in Gallery Updates Royal Tour Royal Tour: South Africa Royal Visit

Photos & Roundup: September 26 – Royal Visit South Africa – Day 4

On September 26, 2019 The Duchess of Sussex made a private visit to the memorial site of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old student who was brutally tortureed, raped and murdered outside of a post office in an act of gender based violence that has been an issue and cause of protest throughout the streets of South Africa.

According to the Sussex Royal Instagram Account Harry and Meghan had been closely following what had happened and were both eager to learn more when they arrived in South Africa. The Duchess even spoke to the mother of Uyinene this week to relay their condolences.

During her visit to the memorial site, Meghan tied a yellow ribbon among the others with “Simi kunye kulesisimo: We stand together in this moment” written in Xhosa. This trip was incredibly important to the Duchess as she wanted to recognize Uyinene, and all women and girls effected by Gender Based Violence (specifically in South Africa, but also throughout the world).

Sussex Royal also revealed that Meghan has taken on a number of private visits and meetings over the last two days to deepen her understanding of the current situation and continue to advocate for the rights of women and girls.

On Thursday morning, The Duchess also attended a private breakfast for “Women In Public Service” at the High Commission in Cape Town. The invited guests have played a role in the development of South Africa’s institutions, and continue to advocate for women’s rights, education and healthcare. No photos from this event have been released yet and at the time reporters said we would hear more about it “later this week”.

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Engagements in 2019 > South Africa Tour > September 26 | South Africa Tour – Day 4 – Set 1

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Announce Official Africa Tour This Fall — with Baby Archie!
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Announce Official Africa Tour This Fall — with Baby Archie!

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are heading to Africa — this time as a family of three!

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed on Thursday that they will carry out a royal tour in Africa this fall. In a post on their @SussexRoyal Instagram page, they also hinted that son Archie, born on May 6, will be coming along: “This will be their first official tour as a family!”

They will visit the country of South Africa, with Prince Harry also making stops in Malawi and Angola. He’ll also do a “short working visit in Botswana on route to the other countries,” according to the Instagram post.

“The Duke and Duchess are really looking forward to meeting so many of you on the ground and continuing to raise awareness of the high impact work local communities are doing across the commonwealth and beyond,” the couple wrote on Instagram.

While visiting Malawi, Harry plans to work on expanding the reach of Prince Harry’s Sentebale charity, which he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi.

Princess Diana visited and famously walked through an active landmine area in Angola during a 1997 visit. The photo of Harry and Prince William‘s mother featured the princess wearing a visor and protective gear provided by charity the HALO Trust while walking through the mine area, becoming an iconic image and example of her passion for the cause.

Home to some of the world’s most important remaining wilderness, the presence of landmines in Angola continue to make the African country unsafe for local and animal inhabitants. During the Chatham House event, the prince will listen to the ‘Connecting Conservation, Sustainable Development and Mine Action’ panel conversation, as well as words by the Angolan Minister for the Environment, Hon Paula Coelho, before making his own remarks.

Harry first visited the Cuando Cubango region in southeast Angola with the HALO Trust in 2013. From this trip, Harry was able to witness the first-hand the impact of landmines affecting the civil war-torn areas.

Africa holds a special place in Prince Harry‘s heart, and he has visited the continent on many occasions beginning as a young boy. His Sentebale charity was founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi, and Harry has taken part in animal conservation work.

In addition, Meghan and Prince Harry have traveled to Africa together several times. They visited Botswana early in their relationship in the summer of 2016 and again to celebrate Meghan’s 36th birthday in 2017.

“I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana. We camped out with each other under the stars. She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic,” Harry said after their engagement. “So then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to know each other.”

They shared a never-before-seen photo of their 2017 trip on their new Instagram account, which showed them assisting with conversation efforts with elephants.

Source: https://people.com/

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How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date
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How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date

Climbing into a helicopter to fly deep into Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, you would be forgiven for forgetting that Duchess Meghan is over seven months pregnant. In fact, given how busy recent months have been for the new royal, it would be tough for anyone to object if she wanted to sit out the early-morning expedition—especially after flying in from London less than 48 hours earlier.

But the February 24 trip was a chance to visit a charity championing a cause close to her heart—universal education opportunities for women—and there was no way she was going to miss it. With Prince Harry’s help, she carefully sat down in the cabin and placed noise-isolating headphones over her head. Ready for takeoff.

“Her energy is boundless,” British Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Reilly, who escorted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their three-day visit to the country, tells BAZAAR.com. “Here’s a woman jumping into a helicopter to fly 1,400 meters [almost 4,600 feet] high, still smiling and ready to do it all, ready to push the issues that matter.”

Adds a friend of the duchess, who notes that she’s “feeling so great” in her final trimester, “That’s ‘Super Meg’ for you—giving it her all. Her energy levels have never failed to impress me.”

From gender equality and universal education opportunities to social entrepreneurship and female empowerment, the visit’s three-day itinerary shone a spotlight on the issues most important to the duchess. Prince Harry, already established as a humanitarian force of his own, often let Meghan take the lead during their nine Moroccan engagements, leaning in to her ear periodically to see if his wife was feeling “okay” along the way. She always was.

After their helicopter dropped them off in the small town of Asni, Meghan spoke to executives from Education For All, a charity that provides education opportunities to girls from rural parts of Morocco, about the importance of universal literacy. “It’s important that every girl has access to further and higher education,” she said. Meghan, conscious of a potential language barrier, even prepared questions in a French to ask the 12- to 18-year-old students who live at the boarding house. Continue reading How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date

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