They’re knee-deep in wedding preparations ahead of their big day in May, but it seems Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working on another major project in between nuptial planning and royal engagements.
Both devoted to their charity work, the couple have one cause they’re holding close to their hearts – their plans to adopt kids from around the world.
Vocal about their combined passion for humanitarian work – with Harry vowing to ‘spend the rest of my life… trying to make a difference’ and Meghan revealing she’s ‘always had a really strong sense of responsibility’ – the decision to adopt has come naturally to the modern royals. And it’s certainly in line with Harry and Meghan’s somewhat unconventional ways.
The actress had her eyes opened to the realities of the third world as a young girl, and says the images of children living in poverty have always remained with her.
‘With my mum, we spent time travelling to remote places – taking trips to Oaxaca, Mexico, where I saw children play in the dirt roads, peddling Chiclets for a few extra pesos to bring home. My mother raised me to be a global citizen, with eyes open to sometimes harsh realities,’ says the 36-year-old.
‘I must have been about 10 years old when we visited the slums of Jamaica. I had never seen poverty at that level and it registered in my glazed brown eyes. “Don’t look scared, Flower,” she said. “Be aware, but don’t be afraid.”’
Having modelled her humanitarian efforts on that of Angelina Jolie, who has adopted children from Cambodia, Vietnam and Kenya, pals say Meghan has always admired the A-lister’s selflessness over the years.
Adopting children in need would follow in Ange’s footsteps, and it appears Harry, 33, didn’t need much convincing from Meghan to consider going down that path, having seen first-hand the plight of orphans around the world himself.
Admitting he would ‘love to have kids’ one day, for Harry, the desire to adopt a child was sparked in December last year during a heartwarming reunion with an orphan in Lesotho.
Bursting with joy, the prince was seen warmly embracing 16-year-old Mutsu, 12 years after they first met while the prince was on his gap year.
‘For me, I have this love of Africa that will never disappear… and I hope that it carries on with my children as well,’ he said at the time.
It was only in November last year that clucky Harry revealed: ‘We’ll start a family
in the near future,’ so a royal baby announcement could come sooner than we all expected!
Read the full story in this week’s issue of New Idea, on sale now.
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