Prince Harry Makes His First Public Appearance After ‘Stepping Back’ From Royal Life Announcement
Prince Harry is taking care of business! On Thursday, January 16, the father of one made his first public appearance since announcing he and Meghan Markle’s plans to step back as senior members of the royal family.
The 35-year-old met with local children in the Buckingham Palace gardens as he hosted the Rugby League World Cup 2021 at his grandmother’s residence. During his time there, Harry, who wore a navy-blue suit with black shoes, spoke to children about the importance of sports.
“Not only do I continue to see sport changing lives, but it's saving lives as well. Whether it's rugby league or sport in general – everyone, given the opportunity, it needs to be in everyone's life,” he said.
Meghan, 38, also made her first public appearance after the unexpected announcement earlier this week. On January 14, Meghan was spotted wearing a heavy winter jacket, brown boots and black pants. She smiled brightly as she boarded a plane to Vancouver from Canada.
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For her outing, the 38-year-old visited a women’s center where she boosted staffer’s spirits. “Look who we had tea with today!” a staffer posted to social media. “The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community. She asked what the women would need in terms of support. It was a nice meeting.”
On January 8, the couple shared a joint statement on Instagram in which they revealed that they will work to become financially independent. “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” they began. “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
Prior to unveiling their big news, it appears that Prince Harry was in the process of helping his wife secure her next gig. On Sunday, January 12, an old video resurfaced on social media where Prince Harry spoke with Disney CEO, Bob Iger, on Meghan’s behalf.
What do you think about Prince Harry’s first public appearance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!