Crowds brave snow flurries to see UK royals Meghan and Harry
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex unveil a commemorative plaque to celebrate the official opening of Bristol Old Vic's new building in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERS
BRISTOL, England (Reuters) - Prince Harry and his wife Meghan thanked crowds of well-wishers for braving wintry weather and snow flurries to welcome them on a trip to southwest England on Friday.
Freezing conditions across much of southern Britain caused hundreds of schools to shut, closed airports and led to widespread disruption on roads and the railways.
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet staff and volunteers during a visit to One25 charity in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool
But despite the poor weather, Harry and Meghan, who is expecting their first child this Spring, were able to make it by train to Bristol for a series of engagements.
"She looked really well," said Lucy Doyle, 31, one of those who braved the chilly weather to see them. "I was impressed to see her wearing heels as well on a snowy day."
The royal couple, whose official title is the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, seemed unperturbed by the adverse conditions as they chatted with some of the fans who had waited patiently for them to arrive as heavy snow fell.
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet volunteers Anita Seaton and Sue Creighton in the charity kitchen as they pack food parcels to go in the charity outreach van, during a visit to One25 in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool
"I hope everyone gets a nice cup of tea after this," Meghan said, apologizing to one well-wisher for having a cold hand. "Our train was a little bit delayed but we tried our best to get here fast."
Their first engagement saw Harry and Meghan, a former actress, visit the city's Old Vic, built in 1766 and the oldest continuously working theater in the English-speaking world.
They then heard about the work of One25, an organization that helps women break free from prostitution and addiction, meeting volunteers who run an outreach program for 150 women who work on Bristol's streets.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, helps put together food parcels to go in the charity outreach van and prepares personalised messages on fruit in the charity kitchen during a visit to One25 in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Pool
Finally, they visited Empire Fighting Chance, a charity which seeks to use boxing to turn the lives around of young people who are failing at school or at risk of drifting into unemployment or crime, where the couple were given their own personalized boxing gloves.
(Writing by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)
A handwritten message is seen on a piece of fruit in a food parcel prepared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex to go in the charity outreach van, during a visit to One25 in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/PoolBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex speaks with Anita Seaton, a volunteer, in the kitchen during a visit to One25 charity in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/PoolBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex speak with with staff and volunteers inside the One25 charity outreach van in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/PoolBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Boxing Charity, Empire Fighting Chance, in the Easton area of Bristol, Britain February 1, 2019. Tom Pilston/Pool via REUTERSAziah Selassie, 7, waits to meet the royal guests as Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Boxing Charity, Empire Fighting Chance, in the Easton area of Bristol, Britain February 1, 2019. Tom Pilston/Pool via REUTERSAziah Selassie, 7, waits to meet the royal guests as Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Boxing Charity, Empire Fighting Chance, in the Easton area of Bristol, Britain February 1, 2019. Tom Pilston/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Boxing Charity, Empire Fighting Chance, in the Easton area of Bristol, Britain February 1, 2019. Tom Pilston/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the Boxing Charity, Empire Fighting Chance, in the Easton area of Bristol, Britain February 1, 2019. Tom Pilston/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex accompanied by Tom Morris, artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, visit "Noises Off" exhibition in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSMeghan, Duchess of Sussex visits Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsChildren wait for the arrival of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsBritain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex talks with residents as she arrives at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsBritain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex greets residents as she arrives at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex talk with children as they arrive at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex is greeted by residents as he arrives at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom JacobsBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. Marc Giddings/Pool via REUTERSBritain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive at Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, Britain, February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Jacobs
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