Following their Bondi Beach morning Meghan and Harry continued the day visiting a girls’ school in western Sydney to talk to students about a social justice project the students are working on.
Well, it was actually supposed to be a secret, but secrets are hard to keep in the era of social media. Their visit to the school was unannounced and only the head teacher, her deputy and the groundman were supposed to know.
Meghan and Harry’s arrival at Macarthur Girls school in Parramatta comes shortly after the students had finished an exam on Friday.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian warmed up before their arrival: “Most of you would probably have got up this morning, got ready for school and turned up thinking it was going to be a normal day at Macarthur Girls School. Is that right?” The students answered with a “No.”
The premier added: “You knew I was coming. Did you know anyone else was coming?” with the students screaming “Yes”.
But the whole school erupted in shrieks and cheers as Harry and Meghan walked into the assembly.
Meghan and Harry was presented with a dance performance to the Frankie Goes To Hollywood version of The Power of Love.
I mean – look at them
They then went inside to meet some of the students
They heard about the National Rugby League’s In Harmony program, which aims to unite and empower young people to be advocates of positive change
The couple then spent time talking to the year nines about the girls’ social justice project and youth empowerment. Meghan revealed to them how her upbringing at an all-girls school and her first job ‘taking out the trash’ as a 14-year-old girl has made her ‘the person she is today’.
15-year-old student Mariam had a “deep and meaningful conversation” with Harry. After the visit she said: “He said ‘This school is making a big change in their community. We have these people in power who don’t care about the environment and they’re giving the new generation a broken world’.”
The visit only lasted for 30 minutes but left the school beaming with joy! 15-year-old Maithly said about the visit: “It was a lovely experience and beyond anything I would have ever expected.” With Rhiannon adding: “When they walked in, I felt like my heart stopped. Their presence just made everyone shocked. I never thought this would actually happen at our school.”
Listen to what the girls had to say here
From their Harry went solo to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge accompanied by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Invictus Games competitors Luke Hill, Ruth Hunt, Heidi Joosten, and Michael Lyddiard, as well as Gwen Cherne, whose late husband served in Cambodia, East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
They made their way up reaching the 440-foot summit. Once at the top, they flew the Invictus Games flag ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony.
A video from the engagement:
It will be the fourth time the annual games have been held. The Invictus Games are a multi-sport event specifically held for wounded or disabled veterans to participate in.
Harry was then joined by Meghan again to visit Prime Minister Morrison and his wife Jenny at Kirribilli House.
A video from the visit
Meghan and Harry of course received a gift for Baby Archie during the visit – a May Gibbs children’s books ‘Snugglepot and Cuddlepie’. The PM said: ‘When a young couple is having their first child, I just think that is one of the best things there is. I’m looking forward to congratulating them on that,’
Meghan and Harry signed the visitors’ book
They also met meet the leader of the opposition Bill Shorten and his wife Chloe Bryce, at Admiralty House in Sydney
After a quick change from the maxi dress by Australian designer Martin Grant Meghan wore earlier today, she chose the stunning Roksanda Athena two-tone dress!
This Pre-AW18 collection piece features just a subtle hint of Roksanda’s signature colour blocking thanks to the light blue block along the hem.
Meghan teamed it up with her Stuart Weitzman Legend pumps in haze beige
… Her Birks Bee Chic blue topaz earrings.
And the Birks Flex Wrap bracelet in white gold.
Another busy schedule is waiting for the couple tomorrow:
- They kick of the day travelling by boat to attend the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island.
- Later they will attend a Reception hosted by the NSW Premier, The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, inside the Opera House.
- They will conclude the day by attending the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Opening Ceremony.