Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have started a two-day trip to Jordan, focusing on humanitarian work, while the Royal Family continues to deal with the fallout from the arrest of Prince Andrew. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, are not on an official royal visit but are engaging with charities and philanthropic efforts in the region.
The couple began their visit by joining a roundtable discussion hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), sitting with senior figures from UN agencies including UNRWA, UNHCR, the World Food Programme, Unicef, and diplomatic attendees from countries such as the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Canada, and the EU. They travelled to Jordan at the invitation of WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During their stay, Harry and Meghan will meet Jordanian leaders and senior health officials, visit frontline health and mental health programmes, and meet World Central Kitchen staff co-ordinating food relief for Gaza from Amman. They will also visit the Za’atari Refugee Camp, home to displaced Syrians, to highlight mental health services, physical rehabilitation, and community-based support for those affected by war and displacement.
At the camp, the couple watched a music class, took part in a football kickabout where Meghan scored a penalty and Harry’s shot was saved, and Meghan accepted a gift from a young girl. Philip Hall, British Ambassador to Jordan, thanked them for their visit, saying: “Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including of course, the World Health Organisation, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated.”
Body language expert Judi James noted changes in their non-verbal messaging, describing their casual attire as “statement dressing” and their poses as aimed at a humbler appearance compared to formal royal duties. The visit comes weeks after Prince William made his own official trip to Saudi Arabia, and Princess Kate, who has close ties to Jordan, visited the country with William in 2021.
