The first day of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal tour of southern Africa got off to an amazing start and their second day was no different.
Beginning their day at the NGO Waves for Change at Monwabisi Beach in Cape Town, Harry and Meghan joined young South Africans to take part in a ‘surf therapy’ mindfulness session.
The organisation brings together surfing with mental health and wellness support for youth, who get together each week to not just surf, but to share stories and talk through daily challenges they face with mentors.
Harry and Meghan take part in a mindfulness workshop with a group of young South Africans and the NGO Waves for Change. (Image: Getty)
Harry and Meghan dressed casually for their visit to the beach, Meghan opted for black jeans, a white shirt and denim jacket, while Harry wore a dark green linen shirt, chinos and sneakers.
During their visit the pair also took part in a Power Hand activity, a mental health exercise which promotes positive thinking, with Harry and Meghan revealing to the Waves For Change co-founder Apish Tshetsha that they both end their days with reflection and mediation, royal correspondent Omid Scobie reports.
Chatting to press following the visit to the beach – which also included meeting the Lunchbox Fund, one of the charities which benefitted from donations following baby Archie’s birth, and learning about the Commonwealth Litter Programme – Meghan and Harry spoke about their views on the mental health crisis around the world.
“It’s about getting people to talk about it and talk to each other, right?” Meghan told the press.
“You see that no matter where you are in the world, whether you’re in a small community or a township or if you’re in a big city, it’s that everyone is dealing with a different version of the same thing – globally, I think there’s a bit of a consciousness crisis.
“And so the fact that we’re able to be here together and see, on the ground, so much good work that’s being done, just because somebody is willing to talk about it and somebody is willing to listen is huge. And that can apply to being here, certainly can apply to being in London, LA, it doesn’t matter where you are, we’re all trying to power through.”
Meghan shares a hug with one of the participants in the workshop. (Image: Getty)
During their first engagements for the day the couple also shared an adorable moment when they were asked during the Power Hand activity to identify and focus on a strength, People reports.
When one of the coaches suggested dancing to Meghan (she showed off some dance moves during her first day in South Africa), the manager of Waves for Change reveals Meghan laughed and said ‘Not that’.
“She said parenting is the new strength that she and Harry are learning,” Heese told People.
“She said, ‘He’s the best dad’ and [Harry] said, ‘No, she’s the best mum.'” Cute!
Prince Harry and Meghan had plenty of affectionate moments during their second day. (Image: Getty)
It’s not the only revelation the couple made about parenting and Archie during the second day of their official tour.
In the afternoon the couple celebrated Heritage Day in Bo Kaap and visited the Auwal Mosque, the first and oldest mosque in South Africa, and had afternoon tea with a Muslim family.
Speaking to Hello! following the visit Waseefa Majiet, a friend of the hosts Shaamiela and Ibrahim Samodien said of Meghan, “She was speaking about motherhood and the transition and said that Archie was a good traveller.
“She said the transition was quite smooth because he’s an easy baby and he was an easy traveller, Harry said he slept on his chest almost 11 hours [during the flight].”
Meghan and Harry sat down for afternoon tea with a local family, and Archie was clearly top of mind. (Image: Getty)
The Duke and Duchess wrapped up their day at the British High Commissioner’s Residence for a reception for youth, community and civil society leaders and it seems Archie was again top of mind for the new parents, with a guest revealing Meghan had told her she’d been sleeping with one eye open.
“They said it was the longest flight they’re ever taken with Archie,” the guest disclosed.
“She slept with one eye open – but he was very good.”
Meghan made her second outfit change for the day, re-wearing her flowy Martin Grant maxi dress, which she wore in Sydney during her royal tour last year, while Harry looked dapper in a light grey suit, white shirt and matching brown belt and shoes.
Meghan looked radiant, re-wearing her Martin Grant maxi dress, which she wore in Sydney in 2018. (Image: Getty)
During the reception the couple awarded Jade Bothma, 12, and Hunter Mitchell, 11, with Commonwealth Points of Light awards for their volunteer work.
As Omid Scobie reports, Hunter brought a toy rhino plush for Archie, and talked about his rhino conservation work, which began in 2015 when he raised funds to support an abandoned baby rhino.
Since then he has opened an orphanage, given talks, filmed documentaries and fought against poaching.
Meanwhile Jade started the charity Oceano Reddentes, which works to create ‘eco-bricks’ from plastic collected from the ocean to use to build homes for the homeless, telling Scobie that she had been inspired by Duchess Meghan’s activism ever since she found out she had challenged the sexist TV advertisement when she was 11.
Harry and Meghan awarded young Jade and Hunter with Commonwealth Points of Lights awards for their incredible volunteer work. (Image: Getty)
Harry, Meghan and Archie landed in Cape Town on Monday morning (South African time) where they were quickly whisked away from the airport to visit a Justice Desk Initiative in the township of Nyanga.
There the couple learned about the initiative, which teaches children their rights and where young girls in the community are given self-defense classes and female empowerment workshops.
Harry and Meghan both gave passionate speeches which were met with cheers from the crowd before Meghan busted out a few dance moves with local dancers, before they made their way to The District Six Museum’s Homecoming Centre to learn about the history of the community which had faced much adversity during the apartheid era.
For Day 3 of their royal tour, the couple will meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife at their legacy foundation before Harry travels to Botswana. Meghan will stay in South Africa, with Archie, and visit the Woodstock Exchange and the charity mothers2mothers, which was a last-minute addition to the itinerary, announced the day before the couple arrived in the country.
See the full 10-day royal tour itinerary here.
