Prince Harry & Duchess Meghan Make a Low-Key Visit to Military Families
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan got to know their Windsor neighbors a little better after they made a surprise appearance at a local community event for military families yesterday. The royal couple took time out for a visit to the Broom Farm Community Centre just a few minutes away from their Frogmore Cottage home, where they spent time talking with spouses, parents, and children of army personnel who have been deployed overseas.
On the same day as Archie turned six months old, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex bonded with families as they spoke about parenting. Meghan chatted to fellow parents including Amy Thompson, whose husband Brad is attached to the Welsh Guards. “My daughter Aeris is the same age as Archie and we talked about weaning and the children beginning to crawl—she's just a normal mum and it was like talking to a friend,” says Thompson.
Meghan also revealed that Archie’s growing up fast, telling one young child, “Archie just got two teeth—tiny ones right there.”
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Nov 7, 2019 at 1:01am PST
Army&You magazine, who exclusively covered the event, report that Harry—who served for 10 years as an army officer—also spoke about the difficulties families face when a partner is away on operations. “It’s unbelievably hard. I have so much respect and admiration for anyone who has to deal with that,” he said, adding that it must be particularly difficult for parents of young children. “I can’t imagine what it’s like to miss so much as they change so quickly.”
Army wife Leigh Smith took her eight-year-old daughter Molly to the informal coffee morning event on November 6. "We had a party when Harry and Meghan got married and we've followed their story ever since, so it was an amazing experience for Molly to shake hands with them,” says Smith. “It's really special and a lovely boost for the whole community”
Adds Molly, "Meghan promised not to tell anyone that I was off school. She asked me who my best friend was."
Yesterday's visit took place during Remembrance Week, which sees the royals out paying tribute to those who died in combat and honoring veterans and those currently serving. The following day, Harry and Meghan visited Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance and will join the queen and other royal family members at the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday as well as as at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
Windsor is home to regiments from the Coldstream Guards, the Welsh Guards, and members of the Household Cavalry. At present, many of the Coldstream Guards are currently in Kenya on Exercise Askari Storm, while a large portion are still serving in the Falkland Islands. Military families with ties to these groups regularly gather on Wednesday mornings at the community center in the army housing estate.
Coldstream Guards welfare officer Captain Colin Lewis said the visit was a much-needed lift of spirits after what has been a tough 18 months. “The regiment are really appreciative of the support the families provide by picking up the burden when the service person is away,” says the officer. "It's great for the duke and duchess to take the time to truly understand the challenges they face. They are very down to earth and they've had a snapshot of the entire community here by talking to lots of people from different backgrounds."
Helen Llewelyn-Usher, wife of Welsh Guards Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher, adds that the Sussexes’ visit will help families to make new friends. "It's amazing that Harry and Meghan found time to fit this in to their busy schedule,” she says. “They shook hands with every single person. It brought together lots of people and now they will always have this amazing memory in common."
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