Related Articles
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience in the Royal Albert Hall in London as they took their seats at the Mountbatten Festival of Music.
Prince Harry, who attended the event at the South Kensington venue in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, wore a mess dress uniform complete with medals awarded from two tours of Afghanistan.
It is the final time that the Duke will go on an engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank of Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017.
Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length £1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Aquazurra heels.
She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity.
Members of the Royal Marines showcased their musicianship and pageantry during the two-day festival, which is marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
It is also marking the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience in the Royal Albert Hall in London as they took their seats at the Mountbatten Festival of Music
Prince Harry, who attended the event at the South Kensington venue in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, wore a mess dress uniform complete with medals awarded from two tours of Afghanistan
It is the final time that the Duke will go on an engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank of Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017
This intimate picture of the Sussexes about to attend their seats in the royal box was shared on the couple’s Instagram page
Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length £1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Aquazurra heels
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a standing ovation at the Royal Albert Hall as they attended one of their final public engagements before they step back as senior royals on March 31
Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines, having taken over the role from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017, and the couple were greeted warmly when they arrived at the venue in South Kensington
The Duke and Duchess then received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience as they took their seats in the royal box before the national anthem – and singing hits from Sir Tom Jones
The arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London
The festival brings together world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines
Prince Harry and Meghan went backstage to meet The Royal Marines Band backstage at the half time interval at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where they had the opportunity to laugh and joke before the second act
Proceeds from the event go to the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent, who support cancer victims aged under 25 and their families (pictured, Meghan at the event)
The arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London
Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London
The Albert Hall performance marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos (pictured, Meghan shakes hands at the event)
Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry leave the Royal Albert Hall following the event on Saturday
It was the couple’s penultimate engagement before they step down as working Royals on March 31
Harry waves goodbye as he and Meghan leave following their attendance at the Royal Albert Hall in London this evening
The Albert Hall performance marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos (Harry is pictured leaving)
The couple will step down as senior royals on March 31 but have carried out a series of engagements over the past days (they are pictured leaving the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday)
The Sussexes received a round of applause and a standing ovation before singing the National Anthem. John Suchet, compering the evening, told how ‘honoured we are’ to have the pair in attendance.
Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert.
The royal couple had the opportunity to laugh and joke with uniformed band members and dancers backstage, before heading onto the stage to meet more attendees and musicians.
They walked off stage hand in hand, and went to take their seats for the second part of the show. During the performance, the audience were led in a singalong of Sir Tom Jones hits including Delilah and It’s Not Unusual.
The concert also featured Judy Garland classic Over the Rainbow, and the Gladiator film theme.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall
Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines and the couple were greeted when they arrived at the venue
Warrant Officer, Reg Sheen, the festival manager, said it was ‘absolutely fantastic’ to see the Sussexes (pictured) and that he was ‘delighted’ that Harry was the force’s Captain General
Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines and the couple were greeted warmly when they arrived at the venue
She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity
Their appearance comes after Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday, releasing photographs of her tour via the couple’s Instagram account yesterday
Harry and Meghan have embarked upon a series of high-profile engagements in recent days, ahead of their departure from public life after March 31 – a day that has been branded ‘Megxit’ (pictured arriving at the Royal Albert Hall)
Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert
The event marked the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent
Meghan and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity
Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length £1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Aquazurra heels
Warrant Officer, Reg Sheen, the festival manager, said it was ‘absolutely fantastic’ to see the Sussexes and that he was ‘delighted’ that Harry was the force’s Captain General.
Mr Sheen, who was a member of the greeting party when the couple arrived on Saturday evening, added: ‘The reaction they got from the audience when they arrived was very emotional for the Royal Marines.’
Harry and Meghan have embarked upon a series of high-profile engagements in recent days, ahead of their departure from public life after March 31 – a day that has been branded ‘Megxit’.
The event comes one day after Harry officially opened the Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire, a museum charting British motor racing through the years, alongside Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
The Prince was driven to the doors of The Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire yesterday morning in a £65,000 electric Mercedes EQC 400 AMG by six-time champion Hamilton.
Meanwhile, Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday, releasing photographs of her tour via the couple’s Instagram account yesterday.
Tonight was the last time that the Duke will attend any engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017
The couple arrived in matching red outfits for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, the duke wearing a Royal Marines officer’s mess jacket and Meghan a red dress by London-based fashion label Safiyaa
She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity
The Sussexes received a round of applause and a standing ovation before singing the National Anthem. John Suchet, compering the evening, told how ‘honoured we are’ to have the pair in attendance
Members of the Royal Marines will showcase their musicianship and pageantry during the two-day festival, which is marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War
It is also marking the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain’s Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association – The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent
Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert
The royal couple had the opportunity to laugh and joke with uniformed band members and dancers backstage, before heading onto the stage to meet more attendees and musicians
All eyes were on Meghan, 38, who has not been seen in this country since she and Harry made the dramatic announcement that they were quitting public life in early January, much to the distress of the Queen
They walked off stage hand in hand, and went to take their seats for the second part of the show. During the performance, the audience were led in a singalong of Sir Tom Jones hits including Delilah and It’s Not Unusual
The couple (pictured at the Royal Albert Hall this evening) have decided to leave Archie in Canada, meaning his British family haven’t seen him for more than four months. The Queen was believed to be ‘very sad’ at this
The Duchess, who is patron of the theatre, was shown VR technology aimed at helping people ‘better connect and empathise with each other as people, regardless of race, age or nationality’.
She also visited a comprehensive school in east London this afternoon on her second day back in the UK.
The couple also attended the Endeavour Fund Awards on Thursday evening to recognise the achievements of wounded, sick and injured service personnel. The annual event celebrates the achievements of wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women who have taken part in sporting and adventure challenges.
All eyes were on Meghan, 38, who has not been seen in this country since she and Harry, 35, made the dramatic announcement that they were quitting public life in early January, much to the distress of the Queen.
She presented the Celebrating Excellence Award during the event, saying: ‘Its very nice to be back. Its the third year I’ve had the incredible fortune of joining my husband here. It’s just the most inspiring space.
‘When we were watching the [nomination] videos all the way in Canada we had the same moment of “how are you going to choose?” Well, we’ve done our best.’
The event is just one of just a handful of engagements the couple are undertaking this weekend in the UK before returning to Canada to embark on their new life, ahead of their official departure on March 31.
On Wednesday, Harry waved to well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace as he was driven away in a Range Rover after a series of internal meetings with his team. It came after they had a ‘heart to heart’ for four hours in her private apartments at Windsor Castle on Sunday about his imminent departure from the Royal Family.
Harry is said to have requested the meeting, and the Queen – who last saw her grandson during their showdown at Sandringham in January after Harry broke the news that he and Meghan were quitting – was happy to agree.
The Queen is believed to have told her grandson that she was keen to keep the door open for him and Meghan to return, and stressed that he would be welcomed back from Canada at any time.
It is the first time Meghan has carried out a public royal duty in the wake of the Megxit crisis. The evening event is the couple’s first joint official appearance since announcing their decision to step down as senior royals, which takes effect on March 31
The couple put on a confident display as they arrived in pouring rain at the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at London’s Mansion House on Thursday, smiling broadly during the event
The Duchess wore a Topshop blouse, a white bodycon pencil skirt, small gold hoop earrings and a gold coin pendant from Missoma for yesterday’s trip to the Theatre, where she is patron
The Duchess of Sussex said it was ‘very nice to be back’ as she made her first public appearance in the UK last night
Harry, who has always enjoyed a warm relationship with his grandmother, was apparently keen to ‘clear the air’ before he and Meghan formally step down as working royals on March 31.
It is understood that he and his grandmother shared a light lunch and tea on Sunday as they discussed his future.
Harry has been staying at Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s home on the Queen’s Windsor estate, since returning to the UK last week to undertake a handful of final official engagements. He and Meghan have agreed to pay back £2.4million in taxpayer funds used to rebuild the property in light of their decision to move to North America.
The Queen was left deeply upset after Harry and Meghan decided to suddenly announce their plans to step down and move abroad in early January in an apparent effort to bounce the Royal Family into agreeing to their demands to retain the trappings of royal life, while pursuing independent commercial careers.
And the couple were taken aback when Buckingham Palace made clear its displeasure and insisted that Harry would have to relinquish his HRH title as a non working royal and hand back their official patronages and his military positions, as well as dropping their plans to market themselves as ‘Sussex Royal’.
The Queen is said to be ‘very sad’ that she sees so little of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie, her great-grandson.
Last autumn, American former Suits actress Meghan opened up about her struggles with royal life in an ITV documentary filmed on their Africa tour. She revealed that she had tried to cope with the pressures by putting on a ‘stiff upper lip’, but admitted she was not prepared for the intensity of tabloid interest.
‘It’s not enough to just survive something, that’s not the point of life. You have got to thrive,’ she added. Meghan told presenter Tom Bradby: ‘Not many people have asked if I’m OK.’
The Sussexes attended the previous annual Endeavour Fund Awards ceremony in February 2019, when the Duchess was heavily pregnant with Archie. They were last seen together on an official engagement on January 7 when they visited Canada House to thank the nation for hosting them during their festive break in Canada.
Countdown to Megxit: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s final three events before they step down as senior royals
Tonight: Mountbatten Music Festival (Harry and Meghan)
Harry and Meghan will attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, which see the Royal Marines showcase their musicianship and pageantry.
The Duke of Sussex at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London in March 2019
The festival takes places over two days – today and tomorrow – at the venue in London, with the couple expected to attend tomorrow evening’s performance.
This event will also be Harry’s last engagement as Captain-General of the Royal Marines, before he loses this title as he steps down as a senior royal.
Sunday: International Women’s Day (Meghan)
Meghan is expected to undertake an engagement to mark International Women’s Day on March 8, although no specifics have yet been revealed.
Speaking on a panel to mark International Women’s Day last year, she said she would like her first child to be a feminist, regardless of whether they are a girl or a boy.
She told an audience at King’s College London last March: ‘One of the things they said during pregnancy was ‘I feel the embryonic kicking of feminism’.’
Monday: Commonwealth Service (Harry and Meghan)
Harry and Meghan will both attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey the next day with the Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the Queen had requested that Harry and Meghan attend the annual service with the rest of the royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (left) with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (right) as they attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 11 last year
The event will likely see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reunite with Prince William and Kate, a year after they were pictured smiling together at the 2019 service.
But the Sussexes have severed professional ties with the Cambridges by pulling out of the Kensington Palace household and their joint charitable foundation.
Source link
