Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are in Morocco
Royal couple touring North African nation on official trip to promote female education and empowerment
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are doing their bit for girl power after jetting into Morocco this weekend for a three-day tour - their last international trip before the birth of their first child.
The couple were “warmly welcomed into Morocco on Saturday evening” by a guard of honour and an enthusiastic crowd, who had waited for two hours after the royals’ flight into Casablanca Airport was delayed, reports the Daily Express.
Meghan Markle, whose baby is due in late April or early May, had spent the previous week in New York, where high-profile friends threw her a baby shower.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Morocco trip is intended to boost ties between the UK and the North African nation, with a focus on women’s empowerment, girl’s education, inclusivity and the encouragement of social entrepreneurship, says Hello! magazine.
Prince Harry and his wife are being hosted by King Mohammed VI in a royal palace, and were “offered dates and milk with orange blossom upon their arrival; a tradition often witnessed at Moroccan weddings”, adds CNN.
On Sunday morning, the couple visited a boarding house in the town of Ansi, where Meghan got a temporary henna tattoo of three flowers on her left hand. In the afternoon, they attended a cooking demonstration in the capital Rabat, where children from under-privileged backgrounds learned traditional Moroccan recipes from a top chef.
This morning, the pair paid a visit to Rabat’s Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports, to learn about Morocco’s “developing programme of supporting children with special needs through equine therapy”, the London Evening Standard reports.
The Duke and Duchess are also attending a horse grooming session with some of the children, before watching a riding demonstration.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 16, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - sleepyhead, little people, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Manipulated' photo of UK's Princess Kate spiked
speed read The first official image of Kate Middleton since January has been retracted
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Regency Acts: what happens if King Charles can't perform his duties
The Explainer Monarch's responsibilities could be carried out by a regent or the counsellors of state
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
King Charles diagnosed with cancer
Speed Read Monarch 'remains wholly positive about his treatment', during which senior royals are expected to stand in for him
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Princess of Wales to remain in hospital for two weeks as King prepares for prostate treatment
Speed Read The timing of the two royal medical announcements was said to be an 'unavoidable coincidence'
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary: a guide to Denmark's next king and queen
Why everyone's talking about Queen Margrethe II is stepping down after 52 years on Denmark's throne
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
King laughs about his 'sausage fingers' in new documentary
Speed Read Charles's ample digits have long attracted 'attention and concern' but he is often the 'first to poke fun'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published