Harry-Meghan get standing ovation as their royal engagements end

by IANS |

London, March 8 (IANS) The UK's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle received a standing ovation after they arrived at the Royal Albert Hall here for one of their final public engagements before stepping back as senior royals.

At the the Mountbatten Festival of Music on Saturday night, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore matching red, Prince Harry in the mess uniform of the Royal Marines and Markle in a cape dress, the Metro newspaper said in a report.

Harry, in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, and Meghan met five members of the Royal Marines before taking their seats in the royal box of the famous South Kensington venue.

The Duke and Duchess also meet performers during the interval.

Videos and images circulating in the media showed the couple laughing and joking with the crowd before heading on to the stage to meet more attendees and musicians.

This last week has been busy for the Duke and Duchess as they look to wind down public life and begin their next chapter as private citizens on March 31, the Metro newspaper said in the report.

They returned to the UK to attend Thursday's Endeavour Fund Awards at Mansion House in central London in what was Meghan's first public appearance since their announcement in January that they were stepping back as royals in order to become financially independent.

Earlier that day, Harry was spotted at Buckingham Palace with the Prince having held a 'heart to heart' with the Queen.

"In addition to the official engagements the Duke and Duchess are conducting over the course of the next few days, they are also meeting privately with several of their patronages," the Metro newspaper quoted the couple's spokesperson as saying.

The Duke and Duchess are expected to join the Queen and other royals at the Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey on March 9, in what is expected to be their final official appearance as HRHs.

The Sussexes had not been seen together on an official engagement since January 7 when they visited Canada House in London to thank the Commonwealth nation for hosting them during their festive break.

The following day, they made their announcement.

Latest News
LS polls: PM Modi to hold public meetings in Haryana, Delhi today Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:45 AM
K'taka CM reviews preparedness for rainy season; HM orders probe into police 'negligence' in Anjali murder case Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:35 AM
Jagan Mohan Reddy leaves for foreign tour Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:34 AM
After LS polls, Telangana parties now gearing up for key MLC by-poll Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:31 AM
Assam Trinamool moves ECI accusing CM Sarma of making 'hate speech' Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:29 AM
Congress, INDIA bloc winning people's confidence across the country: Shivakumar Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:28 AM
PM Modi slams Uddhav Thackeray for 'betraying Balasaheb & sacrifices of Shiv Sainiks' in Mumbai rally Sat, May 18, 2024, 11:28 AM
Trinamool moves ECI against Abhijit Gangopadhyay's remarks on Mamata Banerjee Fri, May 17, 2024, 05:19 PM
Govt-run ONDC facilitates 7.22 mn transactions in April, onboards over 5 lakh sellers Fri, May 17, 2024, 05:17 PM
Explained: What is Hepatitis A that is causing an outbreak in Kerala Fri, May 17, 2024, 05:16 PM
JSW Steel posts 64 pc decline in Q4 net profit at Rs 1,299 crore Fri, May 17, 2024, 05:15 PM
Man, who set afire French synagogue, neutralised Fri, May 17, 2024, 05:13 PM
Friend taken into custody after Kerala bridegroom accused of domestic violence flies out Fri, May 17, 2024, 04:50 PM
Russia reports over 100 Ukrainian drone attacks Fri, May 17, 2024, 04:11 PM
Two fake call centres busted in Punjab, 155 employees held Fri, May 17, 2024, 04:09 PM