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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Russell Myers & Zoe Forsey

Meghan Markle and Harry take Archie to first ever official engagement as he meets Archbishop Tutu

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have taken their son Archie on his first ever royal engagement - a meeting with retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The couple shared an adorable video of them taking their little boy, who is making his Royal Tour debut in Africa, to meet the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The cute clip is captioned 'Arch meets Archie', and shows proud mum Meghan carrying the little royal while he beams at his dad.

Archie is wearing baby blue dungarees with matching socks and a white long-sleeved top, while his mum Meghan is in a £368 navy and white patterned dress from Club Monaco.

Harry looks very smart in a dark suit and tie.

Tutu, who used the pulpit to preach against the injustices of white minority rule during apartheid, has battled prostate cancer for years and has largely withdrawn from public life.

During their meeting Meghan joked with the Archbishop’s daughter Thandeka Tutu Gxashe, that the little royal would have have to get used the the cameras in his life.

She said “I have cameras in my genes.” Meghan replied, “He’s an old soul”

Harry said, “I think he is used to it already”

The Archbishop’s daughter also joked, “You like the ladies. He’s going to be a ladies man”

It's the first time we've officially seen Archie on the tour after Meghan and Harry said they would "see how they felt" when it came to including him in their busy itinerary.

It's a very special day for the family (REUTERS)

Tutu - who effectively the leader of the liberation struggle during Nelson Mandela’s long imprisonment - said he was ‘thrilled by the "rare privilege and honour” to meet the royals.

The 87-year old - one of the most vocal campaigners for Mr Mandela’s release from jail - spent half and hour with the couple and Archie at the historic premises of his ‘Legacy Foundation’ in Cape Town, the Old Granary - a restored 200-plus-year-old edifice built by slaves.

He greeted the royals with laughter with his daughter Thandeka Tutu Gxashe, CEO Desmond Tutu Desk campaign - which creates portable desks for schoolchildren.

The foundation is the global rallying point for the now retired archbishop’s values in respect of people and the earth.

Established by the Archbishop and his wife Nomalizo Leah, its mission is to distill the timeless wisdom of our founders and to instill their values in new generations of leaders.

“We are enormously grateful to welcome the Duke and Duchess to our magnificent space, and for their love and respect for the Arch,” said foundation chair Niclas Kjellstrom-Matseke.

Prince Harry last met Archbishop Tutu in November 2015 when The Queen named him as an honorary member of The Order of the Companions of Honour in recognition of his services to United Kingdom Communities as well as International Peace and Reconciliation.

This morning is the final engagement the couple will attend together before Harry flies to Botswana alone for the next leg of the trip, leaving Meghan and Archie in South Africa.

Harry then heads to Angola, visiting the landmine clearance project where famous photographs of his late mother, Princess Diana, were taken during her campaign to ban landmines.

Meghan has another engagement after this, visiting Woodstock Exchange to meet female entrepreneurs working in technology.

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Yesterday the royal couple were at Monwabisi beach near Cape Town with young surfers who use the ocean as therapy for youth at risk.

They chanted and danced as they joined a welcoming chant known as a kilo run by charity Waves for Change, which helps vulnerable young people living in challenging communities through surfing.

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 didn’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.

Afterwards, the couple then visited the first and oldest mosque in South Africa before heading to Heritage Day celebrations in Bo-Kaap.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex ended the second day of engagements at a reception for young people, community and civil society leaders at the Residence of the British High Commissioner in Cape Town.

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