ThoughPrince HarryandMeghan Marklehave dedicated much of their humanitarian work to helping those in Africa, they won’t be moving to the continent anytime soon.
“I don’t know where we could live in Africa at the moment,” he said. “We just came from Cape Town, that would be an amazing place to base ourselves, of course, it would. But with all the problems that are going on there, I just don’t see how we’d be able to really make as much difference as we’d want to without the issues and the judgment of how we would be with those surroundings.”
The royal father of one added, “It’s a very hard place to live when you know what’s going on. And then you’re sort of, again, slightly disconnected from it.”
Despite Harry and Meghan’s decision to stay in the U.K., the royal couple remains focused on their efforts in Africa.
“The rest of our lives, especially for our life’s work, will be predominately focused on Africa — on conservation,” Harry said. “There are 19 more countries across this continent. There’s a lot of things to be done. There’s a lot of problems here.”
“Ever since I came to this continent as a young boy, trying to cope with something I can never possibly describe, Africa has held me in an embrace that I will never forget,” he explained. “I feel incredibly fortunate for that.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson/Getty
Africa has a special place in Harry and Meghan’s heart.
It has long been a go-to place for Harry, who has visited the continent since his teens and refers to it as “his second home.” He started his charity, Sentebale, in Lesotho in 2006 to help vulnerable children and young people in the country. Harr is also the president of African Parks and patron of the Rhino Conservation Botswana.
Meghan has ties to Africaas well. In 2016, she became the Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada, traveling to Rwanda for the Clean Water Campaign.
The couple traveled to Botswana together early in their relationship in the summer of 2016, and again to celebrate Meghan’s 36th birthday in 2017.
Harry & Meghan: An African Journeywas filmed during their 10-day tour of Africa in late September and early October — a milestone trip that marked their first royal tour as a family of three (Archie, born on May 6, even attended hisfirst-ever public engagementto meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe).
Prince Harry at the British High Commissioner residency in Johannesburg.MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty
Meghan Markle.MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty
The royal couple wrapped up the final leg of their tour with an afternoon reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence, where they celebrated the U.K. and South Africa’s important business relationship and met with entrepreneurs.
Both Meghan and Harry gave speeches, taking the opportunity to thank Africa for their hospitality during their stay. The Duchess of Susses also shared an important message to young people around the world.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Samir Hussein/WireImage
“In a world that can seem so aggressive, confrontational and dangerous, you should know that you have the power to change it,” Meghan continued. “Because whether you’re here in South Africa, at home in the U.K. or the U.S., or around the world, you actually have the power within you to change things, and that begins with how you connect to others.”
Harry also spoke about his love for Africa. “I want to thank you again for the warm reception here today, and everywhere myself and my family have been,” he said. “As I said to the young entrepreneurs this morning — Africa will always have a special place for me and my family, and I can’t wait to return.”
Elsewhere inHarry & Meghan: An African Journey —filmed during the royal couple’srecent tour of southern Africa— Harry talked about the death of his mother,Princess Diana, calling it a “wound that festers.”
He was reminded of his mother while being back in a place that was so close to her heart.
“I think being part of this family — in this role, in this job — every single time I see a camera, every single time I hear a click, every single time I see a flash, it takes me straight back,” he said. “In that respect, it’s the worst reminder of her life as oppose to the best.”
“Being here now 22 years later trying to finish what she started will be incredibly emotional. But everything that I do reminds me of her,” he continued. “But as I said — with the role, with the job and sort of the pressures that come with that — I get reminded of the bad stuff.”
“Any woman, especially when they’re pregnant, you’re really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging. And then when you have a newborn, you know. And especially as a woman, it’s a lot,” she said. “So you add this on top of just trying to be a new mom or trying to be a newlywed. It’s um…yeah. I guess, also thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I’m okay, but it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.”
Harry & Meghan: An African Journeywill air in the U.S. on Wednesday, Oct. 23. (at 10 p.m. ET) on ABC.
source: people.com
