Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share emotional messages of support during trip to Jordan

On the second day of their pseudo-royal trip to the Middle East, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited a number of charities where they learned about the tireless humanitarian efforts to help displaced people in the region

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have kicked off their second day in Jordan with a visit to the World Central Kitchen. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the headquarters of the global organisation, where it co-ordinates and deploys a million hot meals across Gaza every day.

Harry and Meghan have travelled to Jordan at the invitation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesu to learn more over a two-day trip about the tireless humanitarian effort to support the health and wellbeing of displaced Syrians and Palestinians who have sought sanctuary in Jordan over many decades.

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World Central Kitchen was the first philanthropic partnership established by Harry and Meghan through Archewell, and they remain active supporters of the organisation. In Jordan, Harry and Meghan looked engaged as they gathered alongside relief coordinators as food supplies intended for emergency distribution were demonstrated.

Monitoring screens showing bakery production and distribution logistics reinforced the vital role the Amman hub plays in delivering daily sustenance to families affected by conflict. After their visit to the Central Kitchen, Harry and Meghan headed to the national centre for rehabilitation of addicts as promoting mental health support.

Since its inauguration in 2001, the centre has served as a short-term residential and outpatient treatment centre, offering medical withdrawal services, psychological support and social counselling.

During the visit, Harry and Meghan left messages of support on brightly-coloured paper. Meghan wrote in her signature calligraphy: “Congratulations on your dedication to your care. Wishing you continued healing and happiness”, while Harry wrote: “It’s OK to not be OK. Trust each other. Congratulations on your recovery. Now share your courage and experience.”

During their final day in Jordan, the Sussexes will be joined by a WHO delegation as they visit female leaders at the Jordanian Hashemite fund for human development, an organisation known as a pioneer in sustainable human development, and tour the King Hussein cancer centre.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex started their whirlwind trip to Jordan on Wednesday by sitting down with key figures working to support the humanitarian needs of refugees in the country. Meghan and Harry joined a roundtable discussion hosted by the WHO with individuals from major leading bodies like the United Nations.

Philip Hall, British Ambassador to Jordan, thanked the Sussexes for travelling to the Middle East, saying: “So I would simply say thank you very much indeed for coming. Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including of course, the World Health Organisation, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated. So thank you for coming.”

After the roundtable, the Duke and Duchess watched a music class at the QuestScope youth centre at Za’atari refugee camp near Mafraq, and took part in a football kickabout where Meghan accepted a gift from a young girl. The Duchess of Sussex was left with bragging rights when she scored a penalty and her husband’s shot was saved when they joined Syrian children at a refugee camp.

Body language expert Judi James weighed in on the couple’s quasi-royal tour, explaining how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seem more at ease with a non-official tour as opposed to the work of a senior royal. Judi told the Mirror : “So far this looks like an important expression of pared-back-to-basics ‘royalty’ from the couple in the face of the stubborn storm clouds hovering in the UK. It seems to suggest a disconnect from a couple happier to be seen playing kick-about in crumpled casuals right now than anything more formal or high-status.”

Afterwards, Harry and Meghan visited the Specialty Hospital in Amman where they talked to doctors looking after medical evacuees. There they met 14-year-old Maria from Gaza, who had sustained severe burns on her right leg and foot, with Meghan smiling as she offered her a comforting hand.

While their trip is not an official royal visit, given that the Sussexes took a step back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to America, they will spend their trip engaging with various charities and philanthropic efforts in the region. Their trip to Jordan comes just weeks after Prince William made his own official visit to the Middle East, spending three days in Saudi Arabia.