Meghan and Harry received an extraordinarily colorful royal reception on Bondi Beach as they take part in the “Fluoro Friday” yoga session, bare foot on the beach.
They were greeted by cheers and screams as they arrived at the beach just before 08:30AM local time.
An arrival video:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=466213827224265
Meghan and Harry were there to shine a spotlight on mental health with a visit to the OneWave surf community support group. The organization provide surfing lessons to selected individuals experiencing mental health issues. People are nominated by family/friends/health practitioners.
The founders Grant Trebilco and Sam Schumacher, welcomed the couple to the beach with flower leis
They then went on taking off their shoes to join the circle where Harry joked that he ‘felt under-dressed’ for the occasion.
During the session, Meghan spoke candidly about her pregnancy, telling another expectant mother that it felt ‘rather like jet lag’. She also revealed that she got up at 4.30am this morning to do yoga explaining it was “so good for healing your mind”.
Harry on the other hand, was praised for his openness about his mental health battles. He told the group: “Each and every one of us will experience poor mental health, it doesn’t discriminate.”
The Guardian reports:
“Trebilco, who had a manic episode and was diagnosed as bipolar six years ago, said: “The things that really saved me was surfing and the other thing was talking about it. Two of my closest friends started sharing their stories about depression and I never knew.
“It’s so hard to reach out for help. What Harry is doing with his Heads Together is amazing, letting people know it’s OK to not be OK.
“Australia loves them. They’re super passionate about mental health, they are showing that mental health does not discriminate. They’re saving lives talking about it.”
OneWave holds “Fluro Friday” sunrise sessions at beaches around the world to raise awareness about mental health.
The issue is one of those closest to the prince’s heart. He has spoken in the past about his own struggles, and how he bottled up his feelings for 20 years after his mother, Diana, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
“I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and sort of lies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle,” he said.
One of the members of the anti-bad vibe circle, Charlotte Connell, said: “Harry said each and every one of us will experience poor mental health at some stage in our lives.
“Harry said, ‘It took me not six months, but 18 months to find the right person to speak to – you’re not going to find the right person to speak to straight away.’””
Meghan and Harry had a chat with surfers
Emily Andrew tweeted: Lifeguard Jake Nolan, who has previously met Harry on Bondi Beach, said: “We had a bit of a laugh because last time he was here, he was out for a run and he said, ‘Last time I was a bit sweaty when I met you’.
“We got them a little lifeguard uniform, mini shorts, mini shirt.”
Then it was time for a very colorful group photo
A fun tweet
Meghan looked extremely chick and relaxing today
She wore a maxi dress by Australian designer Martin Grant.
She combined it with a pair of Castaner Carina canvas wedge espadrilles
She accessorized it with the Adina Reyter Pavé Teardrop Necklace.
And the Karen Walker Temptation Studs
Next on the program: Meghan and Harry will visit the MacArthur Girls High School to see first-hand the work by students in human rights, social justice and women’s empowerment.
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