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The Duchess of Sussex today donned a headscarf following in the footsteps of Princess Diana as she joined her husband at South Africa’s first and oldest mosque.
To mark Heritage Day, a public holiday in South Africa when the nation celebrates its culture, diversity and traditions, Meghan and Harry paid a visit to the historic Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town.
Meghan, 38, changed out of her casual clothes and wore a floor-length olive dress with a scarf to cover her head, even helping a woman with her veil when she stepped inside the mosque. Diana wore a veil during a visit to the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on a royal tour of Pakistan in 1991.
During their visit, which aimed to promote dialogue between faiths, the royal couple met with Christian priests and Rabbis together with Christian, Jewish and Muslim youth leaders.
Harry told one youngster he sometimes feels ‘overwhelmed’ by the world’s problems. Peter Oki, 18, an Anglican who attends a Jewish school, said: ‘Harry said he often woke up and felt it’s hard to get out of bed because of all the issues.’
Earlier in the day Harry and Meghan joined in a ‘bonding’ ceremony on a beach outside the city with a group of surfers who use their sport to help children beat mental health issues.
The couple, who left Archie with his nanny back at their base, later had afternoon tea at the home of a Cape Town family, where Meghan spoke about motherhood and how the ‘transition was smooth’ as Archie was such an ‘easy baby’.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrive at Auwal Mosque, the first and oldest mosque in South Africa
Once inside the mosque, the Duchess did not hesitate to help another woman with her headscarf
Prince Harry also stopped to take his shoes off before heading inside the oldest mosque in South Africa
Meghan had changed out of her casual clothes and covered her head with a scarf and wore a long gown that swept the floor. Prince Harry also stopped to take his shoes off before heading inside
Diana wore a veil during a visit to the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on a royal tour of Pakistan in 1991
Harry and Meghan hugged youngsters as they walked through the colourful and multicultural neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap
The Duchess of Sussex playfully chatted to youngsters in the mosque as Harry listened in
Libo Metel, 11, hugged both Meghan and Harry when they stopped to talk to crowds waiting for them in the historic Bo Kaap neighbourhood.
She said of her meeting with Meghan: ‘I gave her a flower, a yellow rose and she said ‘can I get a hug? ‘You’re the sweetest person in the world and I’m like ‘what the heck?!’ and then I gave her a hug and then the prince asked me ‘did you give her a hug?’ and he gave me a hug too.’
Asked who had the best hug, Libo replied: ‘The queen! Meghan. I felt the love and the care.
‘I felt very special. It was just awesome. Everybody has had a good time seeing them.’
Libo was with a group called Brave, which provides rehabilitation through yoga and meditation to people with limited mobility due to physical trauma or injury.
Volunteers from the Bo Kaap organisation handed the royal visitors packages of handmade soaps and bracelets to take with them and explained their work to yoga-fan Meghan.
Volunteer Indrani McMillan said: ‘They looked so happy, they looked so taken with the vibe. It’s so amazing, they really know how to stir up a party effect.’
Women do not have to cover their heads in all mosques, but it is usually considered a sign of respect. Many Islamic places of worship provide headscarves for non-believers to wear when they visit.
This morning the couple had heaped praised on each other’s parenting skills as they labelled one another ‘the best mum’ and ‘the best dad’.
Earlier in the day they had visited Monwabisi Beach on the outskirts of Cape Town, to learn about the work of Waves For Change, which helps vulnerable children from township and challenging communities through the power of surfing.
They also heard about the Lunchbox Fund, one of four charities to benefit from public donations made following the birth of their son Archie, who has joined his parents in South Africa for his first official royal tour.
The Duchess hugged and joked with youngsters before the couple were asked to declare their personal strengths during a ‘power hand’ bonding exercise – but Harry cheekily ducked the task and invited his wife to share instead.
Meghan, 38, looked bashful as she tried to think of something and laughed as she said dancing as not her strong point, but suggested parenting was a new strength that she and Harry, 35, were ‘learning and developing’.
Turning to her husband, she declared him ‘the best dad’, while Harry – who smiled and looked his wife in the eye with a loving ‘ahhh’ – called her ‘the best mum’ before they shared a tender kiss in front of the crowd.
The Duchess of Sussex meets an excited young wellwisher as she was gifted flowers, cards and presents
Harry and Meghan meeting Father Lapsley, an Anglican leader. Born in New Zealand, he moved to South Africa to campaign for equal rights. He lost both hands and the sight in one eye in a letter bomb attack. It was sent by the Civil Cooperation Bureau, a covert outfit of the apartheid security forces
The couple joined in with Heritage Day, a celebration of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions in South Africa, on day two of their tour
The Duke and Duchess attend a reception for young people, community and civil society leaders at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town
In her third outfit change of the day, the Duchess wore a striped floor-length gown
The couple ended the day at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town
While Prince Harry kept his suit and shirt on – a similar one to the J Crew suit he sported yesterday – his wife changed into a stunning evening dress
The Duchess later swapped her cream headscarf for a pretty purple flower
Upon leaving the mosque, the Duke and Duchess walked through the colourful and multicultural neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap on Heritage Day
Meghan warmly greeted a woman inside Auwul Mosque in Bo-Kaap this afternoon
The couple enjoyed an animated chat over lunch at a family home in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood
Meghan kindly helped a lady put her headscarf in place when they were inside the mosque
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex take a drink as they visit a family in the Bo Kaap are
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sit with local residents in the Bo Kaap area of Cape Town to mark Heritage Day
The pair posed with a musician after they had visited the oldest mosque in South Africa
The Duchess teamed her headscarf with a long khaki dress, drawn in at the waist with a belt
Entertainers gave a lively performance in celebration of Heritage Day in the Bo-Kaap area
A delighted Meghan clapped as a band played music for them and the crowd cheered
The couple were treated to an array of home baked cakes and pastries as they toured the neighbourhood
The lively walkaround saw Meghan and Harry shake hands with community leaders and residents
As part of Heritage Day celebrations, the Duchess chatted with the people over a delicious lunch
The Duchess of Sussex was treated to a performance from dancers during a visit to the Bo Kaap area of Cape Town
The pair made their was inside a house in the striking and colourful neighbourhood
The couple happily took the time to stop and chat to fans who had waited outside to meet them
Their stop at the 225-year-old Auwal Mosque in Cape Town on Tuesday included a viewing of the first known manuscript of the Quran in South Africa. Authorities say it was written down from memory by an imam while he was imprisoned on nearby Robben Island during a period when slaves were not allowed to worship Islam
Meghan hugged a youngster who was representing a charity during the visit today
Murals adorn the walls in the eclectic Cape Town neighbourhood which was celebrating Heritage Day today
Prince Harry animatedly chatted, evidently making the crowd laugh as his wife was gifted flowers
Hundreds stood outside their homes as the royal couple conducted a walkabout of the neighbourhood
The royal couple’s 10-day, multi-country tour also includes stops for Harry in Botswana, Angola and Malawi with a focus on wildlife protection, mental health and mine clearance
The pair were given flowers as they experienced the culture and diversity in the South African neighbourhood
They left in separate cars as new mother Meghan went back to the High Commissioner’s residence to look after four-month-old baby Archie while Harry travelled on a South African Maritime Police Unit RIB to Kalk Bay Harbour.
The couple had travelled to the picturesque beach setting to learn how surf mentors are helping youngsters in need.
They copied the young surf mentors as they took part in an ‘energising’ ‘Hey Joe’ game, involving finger clicking and chanting.
And there was even time for a little meditation, which Meghan – who has long been a proponent of daily mindfulness, as has Harry – took part in particularly enthusiastically closing her eyes and clasping her fingers.
Harry later visited Kalk Bay Harbour, to learn about their work combating the poaching of abalone, a type of sea snail that is at critically low levels, as a plate of the marine delicacy is worth more than its weight in gold – £420 a plate – to Chinese diners.
Asked what was the most pressing global issue when it came to dealing with the stigma around mental health, Meghan replied: ‘It’s just getting people to talk about it and talk to each other, right?
‘And you see that no matter where you are in the world, if you’re a small community or a Township, if you’re in a big city – it’s that everyone is dealing with a different version of the same thing.
‘Globally I think there’s a bit of a consciousness crisis, and so the fact we’re able to be here together to see on the ground so much good work that’s being done, just because people are willing to talk to each other about it and someone’s willing to listen is huge.
‘And that can apply to being here, certainly can apply to being in London, LA – doesn’t matter where you are, we’re all sort of trying to power through and find some optimism.’
The Auwal Masjid is a symbol of the struggle of Cape Muslims for the recognition of Islam and their freedom to worship
Excited children representing a local charity waited patiently to give the Duchess some gifts
Built in 1794 during the British occupation of the Cape of Good Hope, the Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa
The Duchess of Sussex evoked memories of Princess Diana this afternoon as she and Prince Harry made their visit to a mosque. Meghan’s appearance at the mosque evoked memories of Princess Diana, who displayed similar cultural sensitivity on royal visits to mosques in Egypt and Pakistan (pictured, in 1991 and 1996)
The couple were met by a group of faith leaders, including a representative of the Church of England, the Chief Rabbi and Jewish, Christian and Muslim youth leaders, as well as students who participated in the London-Cape Town interfaith exchange
The pair listened to talks about the history of the mosque, which came into existence in 1794 during the first British occupation of the Cape of Good Hope and was the main religious institution during the years 1804 until 1850
Harry and Meghan arrive – with the duchess wearing a traditional headscarf for the first time
The Duchess changed out of skinny jeans and into a khaki coloured shirt dress for the visit this afternoon
Meghan Markle, resplendent in a headscarf, is pictured arriving at Auwal Mosque in Cape Town along with her husband Prince Harry this afternoon
The Duchess made her way out of the mosque before removing her headscarf in readiness for the walkabout
Meghan happily posed for pictures as she left the Auwal Mosque this afternoon
The pair attend the Heritage Day public holiday celebrations in the Bo-Kaap district
The Duchess put her hand on a youngster’s knee as she bent down to receive a bunch of flowers
Hundreds of people filled the neighbourhood to catch a glimpse of the couple as they completed their walkabout
Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa and for the Muslim community, this mosque symbolises the freedom of former slaves to worship
Harry and Meghan held hands as they waved to adoring fans gathered in Bo-Kaap
The pair both dressed appropriately for the occasion – Meghan in a floor-length dress and nude pumps, and Harry in a suit
Crowds of wellwishers await the arrival of Prince Harry and his wife in the neighbourhood
The pair bid a farewell to leaders dignitaries the mosque, the oldest in South Africa
The American beauty kept her make-up simple beneath the scarf
The couple will meet with a group of faith leaders, including a representative of the Church of England, the Chief Rabbi and Jewish, Christian and Muslim youth leaders, as well as students who participated in the London-Cape Town interfaith exchange
The couple were warmly greeted by leaders at the Auwal Mosque in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood
Meghan’s modest khaki maxi dress featured a billowing skirt and belted waist, which she teamed with nude pumps
Meghan had changed out of her casual clothes and, presumably out of respect for the Muslim place of worship, covered her head with a scarf and wore a long gown that swept the floor
Harry added: ‘I think most of the stigma is around mental illness, we need to separate the two… mental health, which is every single one of us, and mental illness, which could be every single one of us.
‘But I think they need to be separated, the mental health element touches on so much of what we’re exposed to, these experiences that these kids and every single one of us have been through.
‘Everyone has experienced trauma or likely to experience trauma at some point during their lives.
‘We need to try, not eradicate it, but to learn from previous generations so there’s not a perpetual cycle.
‘What’s amazing here just in a day and half – barely – conversations keep happening with all sorts of different people. So they’ve been through it and we can learn so much from that.’
Asked what the message was they were trying to get across, Meghan replied: ‘I think what’s amazing about being here today as you can see, there’s so much good happening in the world, and there’s so much positivity and all of this diversity and inclusivity – think the focus is on that…’
Harry said people from the local community who had suffered traumatic experiences were working with Waves for Change and were not only sharing their experiences but ‘able to help the younger generation’.
The duke added there was a whole generation of children with ‘no role models at all’ but now they were being given an opportunity.
Highlighting the nearby townships the duke said: ‘It’s amazing to think that just on the other side of here you’ve got tin huts with all these kids with nothing, and bringing them together a nice hot meal provided by Lunchbox Fund, and the sea of which they’ve been terrified of most of their lives.
‘Now they can swim, they can surf…’
The Duke and Duchess shared a kiss after they labelled one another ‘the best mum’ and ‘the best dad’ on the second day of their whirlwind tour of Africa
Harry then travelled by boat with a crew from the City of Cape Town Marine Unit to Seal Island to learn about their work combating the poaching of abalone
The Duke and Duchess stopped for photos after taking part in a ‘power hands’ ceremony on the beach
Prince Harry donned his lifejacket as he met with officers of the Cape Town Marine Unit
Prince Harry poses for a photo with South African Maritime Police Unit staff at Kalk Bay Harbour
The Duchess of Sussex hugged a surf mentor during the visit to Waves for Change
Harry and Meghan got the chance to part in a mental health exercise called the Power Hand, which promotes positive thinking
Prince Harry put a loving arm around his wife as they left the charity headquarters near Cape Town
The Duchess sat down and giggled with youngsters on the beach
The couple kissed as Meghan returned to the High Commissioner’s residence to see Archie, while Harry was taken out on the sea by Cape Town’s Maritime Police unit
During a lively ‘kilo’, a welcoming chant, call and response game, Harry and Meghan enthusiastically sang, clapped and slapped their thighs. At the end the duchess gave a little jump of excitement and hugged the young girl next to her
Meghan, 38, looked bashful as she tried to think of something and was told she might consider dancing her strong point, but she laughed and said no
Meghan did think of something she was good at – ‘parenting’, she said, was a new strength that she and Harry were ‘learning and developing’
Harry said: ‘I think most of the stigma is around mental illness, we need to separate the two… mental health, which is every single one of us, and mental illness, which could be every single one of us’
The duke – an Army veteran – joined officers of the Cape Town Marine Unit as they took to the water
Prince Harry is no stranger to teaming up with serving members of the forces – he served in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking two tours of Afghanistan
The pair shared tender moments during the visit. Meghan said parenting was a new strength that she and Harry were ‘learning and developing’
The Duchess of Sussex spoke out about the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for more conversation on the topic
Asked what the message was they were trying to get across, Meghan replied: ‘I think what’s amazing about being here today as you can see, there’s so much good happening in the world, and there’s so much positivity and all of this diversity and inclusivity – think the focus is on that…’
The Duke and Duchess with surf instructor and mentor Apish Tshetsha as they strolled through the grounds
The Duke of Sussex travels on a South African Maritime Police Unit RIB
Harry on the rib RIB during a visit to Kalk Bay Harbour, in Cape Town on day two of the Royal couple’s visit to South Africa
The abalone is a type of sea snail that is at critically low levels, as a plate of the marine delicacy is worth more than its weight in gold – £420 a plate – to Chinese diners
The couple chatted with Dr Thomas Maes, Director of the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) and Loyiso Dunga, a marine Biologist from the Sea Change Project, who will speak about the impact of micro plastics in the ocean and provide a demonstration in their micro laboratory
The former actress and her husband happily posed for pictures, beaming alongside children from the surf school
The Duchess of Sussex exuded cool in simple black Capri jeans paired with a denim jacket, white shirt, canvas shopper bag and tan loafers
After being met by founding director Tim Conibear, the pair visited one of W4C’s ‘Safe Spaces’, where young people can go to talk in confidence
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet surf mentors as they visit Waves for Change, an NGO, at Monwabisi Beach
The American former actress wore a white shirt, with her Le Specs Bandwagon sunglasses tucked in the front, a cropped denim jacket with sleeves rolled up, and black skinny jeans
Prince Harry fully immersed himself in the meditation session beside the beach this morning
Meghan’s hair was up in a bun, but the windy weather meant she had to re-adjust a few loose strands behind her ears as she arrived
Meghan returned to the High Commissioner’s residence to see Archie, while Harry was taken out on the sea by Cape Town’s Maritime Police unit who are combatting the illegal poaching of the abalone snail.
A detachment from the Royal Marines – of which Harry is Captain General – have visited the police unit to help train and catch the smugglers.
On arrival at Kalk Bay Harbour Harry was greeted by the UK Defence Adviser, Colonel Alan Lister OBE of the Royal Marines.
Colonel Alan introduced the Duke to two Royal Marine Trainers waiting in the Maritime Police Boat, Captain Robert Smith and Marine Timothy Lombard, who have been providing the Cape Town Maritime Police Unit (MPU) with the training.
The Marines visited last August for a week and have now returned for another week this month.
They had planned to take Harry to Seal Island, which, as the name suggests, is only inhabited by seals. But the sea was too rough so Harry had an exhilarating ride down the coast of Kalk Bay, south of Cape Town.
Captain Rob Smith, 27, from Chippenham in Wiltshire spoke to Harry. Captain Smith, who has spent four years as a Marine, said: ‘We talked about what we did last year – we spent a week here in August 2018 to teach craft handling, hand signals to communicate between the boats and developing tactics with the maritime police unit which will help them out on the water to cooronsate missions more effectively.
‘A big thing was building their confidence with some mentoring. ‘Harry was very engaged and enjoyed chatting to us.
‘He wanted to get a better picture of how the poachers operate and how sophisticated their operations are. They could be on operations every single evening and even now during the day so the problem is fairly significant.
‘When the abalone snail is exported to China it fetches a price comparable to gold. The maritime unit have 300km of coastline to police with only 30 personnel.
‘Harry was really interested in the environmental issues and how dedicated the staff in the maritime unit are to helping this issue. It was an authentic experience for Harry and it was a great pleasure and privilege to meet our Captain General.’
Asked what was the most pressing global issue when it came to dealing with the stigma around mental health, Meghan replied: ‘It’s just getting people to talk about it and talk to each other, right?’
Meghan said: ‘You see that no matter where you are in the world, if you’re a small community or a Township, if you’re in a big city – it’s that everyone is dealing with a different version of the same thing’
The Duchess added: ‘Globally I think there’s a bit of a consciousness crisis, and so the fact we’re able to be here together to see on the ground so much good work that’s being done, just because people are willing to talk to each other about it and someone’s willing to listen is huge’
Meghan eschewed her engagement ring in favour of a simple gold band and another ring
Meghan said: ‘Someone’s willing to listen is huge. And that can apply to being here, certainly can apply to being in London, LA – doesn’t matter where you are we’re all sort of trying to power through and find some optimism.’
Harry and Meghan also held an impromptu question and answer session with the press close to the beach and were quizzed about what it was like being in Africa.
Speaking about Monday when the couple visited Nyanga Township in Cape Town, the duke replied: ‘Yesterday was great and to start in Nyanga was amazing.’
He went on to comment on the growing issue in South Africa of violence against women: ‘I think everyone across the world now has probably heard about what’s been happening more recently – that kind of stuff happens all the time, every year, but it really peaked in the last month or so, we’ve done our best to keep track of what’s been going on.’
Harry added: ‘This Africa tour was always going to be fantastic, been looking forward to Cape Town – her first visit, I love this place.
‘And again meeting the people, the energy, the fun, again the positivity, the optimism and the hope in the face of such incredible adversity. There are young people and older people, men and women trying to change what effectively has become the norm.’
The American former actress wore a white shirt, with her Le Specs Bandwagon sunglasses tucked in the front, a cropped £112 denim jacket with sleeves rolled up, and black skinny jeans.
Meghan’s hair was up in a bun, but the windy weather meant she had to re-adjust a few loose strands behind her ears as she arrived.
Her Madewell denim jacket in Pinter Wash with metallic buttons costs around £112.
Her tan shoes were her Brother Vellies Huaraches Flats in Whiskey, which are priced at £156, and are already mostly out of stock.
Brother Vellies, which is based in New York, was created by designer Aurora James to represent James’s favourite traditional African footwear and create jobs within the continent.
Each product is handmade by local artisans in countries including South Africa, Kenya and Morocco using techniques and styles passed down from generation to generation.
Meghan carried a £74 Madewell medium Transport Tote bag in khaki-coloured British Surplus, at times wearing the tan leather strap across her body.
Harry was in a dark unbuttoned shirt tucked into beige trousers, with matching trainers.
Arriving this morning at several old shipping containers that the Waves for Change charity, which was started from a van nine years ago but now helps 1,200 children from the region, now calls home, the couple were met by founding director Tim Conibear.
‘How’s it going?’ asked Meghan, who was dressed casually in jeans and a denim jacket with a white shirt and brown woven loafers. One of the unnamed mentors – described as the ‘heart’ of the organisation – talked the couple through how they worked with children, aged 11 to 15, many of whom had no caring adults in their lives.
‘It’s about consistency, isn’t it?’ nodded the duchess, while Harry asked: ‘Presumably you need to teach some of these kids how to swim before you can get them to surf?’.
Meghan chatted intently about some of the meals on offer, saying: ‘You need this after a long day.’
The couple had travelled to the picturesque beach setting to learn how surf mentors are helping youngsters in need
At the start of her ten-day tour with husband Harry and baby Archie, Meghan told an audience in South Africa she was there not just as a royal but ‘as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of colour and as your sister’
Yesterday they visited the township of Nyanga – South Africa’s ‘murder capital’ – shortly after arriving in Cape Town with their four-month-old son on a British Airways flight for their first official tour as a family
Harry and Meghan sat and took part in a meditation class with the beach in the background
Royal wave: Prince Harry and his wife posed with boys and girls on the beach as their visit drew to a close
Beach boys (and girls!): The energetic visit saw the couple sing, dance and take part in various activities
The American former actress chatted with youngsters as they showed her what they get up to
Outside they joined 25 surf mentors taking part in a lively ‘kilo’, a welcoming chant, call and response game. Harry and Meghan joined in enthusiastically, slapping and slapping their thighs. At the end the duchess gave a little jump of excitement and hugged the young girl next to her.
Afterwards the charity’s partnerships manager, Ash Heese, 27, said of Meghan’s contribution : ‘She looked a little bit hesitant [when asked to share a strength so one of our coaches shared that her participation and her energy and her dancing was one of her strengths.
‘She laughed and said no she didin’t think so, but parenting is a new strength that her and Harry are learning and developing.
‘She said he’s the best dad and he said she’s the best mum.’
Ash described Harry and Meghan as ‘very engaging’, adding: ‘They were keen to engage with the coaches on their level, no sense of talking down or being patronising towards them. They seemed genuinely interested in our coaches and our coaches are the heart of our programme.’
She added: ‘It’s wonderful to have such positive mental health champions showcasing our work, showcasing the importance of positive youth development.
‘They were amazing.’
The royal couple fully immersed themselves in group activities against the backdrop of the beach in South Africa
Duchess of cool: Meghan sat and laughed with the youngsters from the surf school
The couple were given a talk about the Waves For Change organisation, which was founded after a group of surfing enthusiasts discovered how beneficial the sport was in engaging young people and helping their mental health
Harry and Meghan sat down to take part in a power hands and meditation circle
Waves for Change is an NGO which supports local surf mentors to provide mental health services to vulnerable young people living in under resourced communities
The royals were relaxed and happy as they took part in group activities with the excited youngsters
The organisation combines surfing with evidence-based mind and body therapy to provide a child-friendly mental health service to vulnerable young people
The Duchess of Sussex threw herself into the activity alongside members of the NGO Waves for Change
The Waves For Change organisation was founded after a group of surfing enthusiasts discovered how beneficial the sport was in engaging young people and helping their mental health.
Daily exposure to violence and stress in South Africa means that many residents, particularly young people, suffer from acute emotional and psychological difficulties.
But early evidence suggests that those who taking part in surfing session experience improved feelings of belonging, trust and confidence.
After being met by founding director Tim Conibear, who talked to them about their work, the Duke and Duchess visited one of W4C’s ‘Safe Spaces’, where young people can go to talk in confidence.
They also met 25 surf mentors preparing for a mental health activity on the beach as well as joining them in a circle for a welcome.
They even joined the surf mentors in a circle for a Kilo – a welcoming chant, call and response game.
Harry and Meghan also got the chance to part in a mental health exercise called the Power Hand, which promotes positive thinking.
The Duke and Duchess joined in in the Power Hand activity and spoke to the surf mentors about its benefits.
The couple also took the chance to chat with Dr Thomas Maes, Director of the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) and Loyiso Dunga, a marine Biologist from the Sea Change Project, who spoke about the impact of micro plastics in the ocean and provide a demonstration in their micro laboratory.
The discussion will highlight the importance of role models, such as the surf mentors, in spreading the message in their communities on how plastic waste impacts on the ocean.
The Sea Change Project is a community of ocean scientists working to protect the oceans through film, journalism and activism, led by Craig Foster, an award-winning filmmaker, whose work has appeared on Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth.
Before they left Harry and Meghan spent time in the kitchen with staff from The Lunchbox Fund, which helps vulnerable children in the country get the education they desperately need by providing a daily, nutritious school meal.
Many of the children would often go hungry and the meal encourages them too attend school, as well as concentrate and learn.
The charity provides nearly 30,000 nutritious meals every day to Waves for Change programmes and schools in South Africa’s townships and rural areas.
They will hear about the Lunchbox Fund, one of four charities to benefit from public donations made following the birth of their son Archie, who has joined his parents in South Africa for his first official royal tour
Surfs up: Proud youngsters displayed the charity emblem on their wetsuits as they showed the pair around
The Duke and Duchess strolled around Monwabisi Beach in the sunshine this morning
They happily chatted to members of the charity and waved to well-wishers who had come along to catch a glimpse
Daily exposure to violence and stress in South Africa means that many residents, particularly young people, suffer from acute emotional and psychological difficulties. But early evidence suggests that those who taking part in surfing session experience improved feelings of belonging, trust and confidence
Harry and Meghan listened intently as young people talked about how they are helped by the charity
After spending their first day in the city of Cape Town, it was time this morning for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to head the beach
Harry and Meghan in a mental health exercise called the Power Hand, which promotes positive thinking. The duke and duchess joined in with the Power Hand activity and spoke to the surf mentors about its benefits
Harry and Meghan travelled to Monwabisi Beach, on the outskirts of the city, to learn about the work of Waves For Change, which helps vulnerable children from township and challenging communities through the power of surfing
The couple laughed and joked as they made their way into the Waves of Change headquarters
The stunning former actress kept her look typically natural, with a flush of bronzer and her hair swept into a low bun
Harry and Meghan will also get the chance to part in a mental health exercise called the Power Hand, which promotes positive thinking
The Duchess of Sussex beamed as she met with representatives from the charity in Cape Town today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the Waves for Change compound kitchen, where charity The Lunchbox Fund, provides nearly 30,000 nutritious meals every day to programmes in townships and rural areas at Monwabisi Beach
Ash Heese, 27, projects manager at Waves For Change explained that the project had been running for nine years, starting from a small van on the beach.
It now works with 1,200 children from across Cape Town and the Eastern Cape.
She said: ‘We had no idea that the couple had even heard of us until they featured us on their Instagram account. We woke up on a Monday morning to find our social media goi f crazy.
‘We really hope that this visit will raid awareness of the work we are doing.
‘These young people on average experience eight acts that affect their mental health every day, ranging from extreme poverty to violence and intimidation. Most of us experience four in a lifetime.
‘Mental health is not something that is well addressed in South Africa. There is a severe shortage of trained staff.
‘The mentors here are amazing. They don’t have to have formal qualifications but are very special people with empathy and understanding. It is what these children need so very badly. ‘
Speaking to a well-wisher as Meghan stood nearby, Harry said about his son: ‘He was staring out the window as we flew in… looking at Table Mountain’
Say cheese: The delighted group posed for photographs with the beautiful beach in the background
Harry and Meghan also held an impromptu question and answer session with the press close to the beach and were quizzed about what it was like being in Africa
Speaking about Monday when the couple visited Nyanga Township in Cape Town, the duke said: ‘Yesterday was great and to start in Nyanga was amazing.’
Harry also spoke out about the growing issue in South Africa of violence against women today
Meghan’s Madewell denim jacket in Pinter Wash with metallic buttons costs around £112. Her tan shoes were her Brother Vellies Huaraches Flats in Whiskey, which are priced at £156, and are already mostly out of stock
The duke told reporters: ‘This Africa tour was always going to be fantastic, been looking forward to Cape Town – her first visit, I love this place’
Harry said: ‘And again meeting the people, the energy, the fun, again the positivity, the optimism and the hope in the face of such incredible adversity. There are young people and older people, men and women trying to change what effectively has become the norm.’
During the first day of his family’s tour of South Africa, Harry said his baby son could not take his eyes off the mountain that dominates the backdrop to the city, as their plane landed
Meghan carried a £74 Madewell medium Transport Tote bag in khaki-coloured British Surplus, at times wearing the tan leather strap across her body
Archie has not been included in Harry and Meghan’s official schedule for South Africa, although the couple hopes to publicly introduce him to Africa at some point
Harry was in a dark unbuttoned shirt tucked into beige trousers, with matching trainers
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, meets with members of the NGO Waves for Change
Discussing his son Harry, was overheard telling another well-wisher: ‘He’s not grouchy, just exhausted.’
After spending their first day in Cape Town, this morning the Duke and Duchess of Sussex headed to Monwabisi Beach to learn about the work of Waves for Change
The couple dressed casually as they arrived in a Land Rover ahead of the day’s events
Royal fans brought out the bunting and flags as they got set to greet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Monwabisi Beach
Well-wishers braved the wind as they set up their chairs on the beach in Cape Town this morning
In his role as Captain General Royal Marines, Harry will meet two Marines who have been training the Cape Town unit as part of a Ministry of Defence initiative that began last summer.
They will end the day meeting young people and community and civil society leaders at the official residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town.
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