Meghan gives Archie’s hand-me-downs to charity supporting mothers with HIV
The royal youngster made his first official appearance of the tour in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Duchess of Sussex gave gifts of baby Archie’s hand-me-downs to a charity supporting mothers with HIV, on the day her son made his royal tour debut.
Archie, who is nearly five months old, delighted royal fans and stole the show when Meghan and the Duke of Sussex took him to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town.
The veteran Nobel Peace Prize winner planted a tender kiss on baby Archie’s head.
Meghan said “He’s an old soul”, while Harry commented: “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.”
“Here’s a few little things that I thought would be helpful,” she said, holding them up one by one. “The Future. And he’s outgrown his Invictus one,” she added.
Meghan, dressed in a black Everlane jumpsuit, surprised the women by stepping down from her seat, and calling for them to join her on the floor.
The duchess said baby Archie would get “crabby” if he was left in a chair.
“I can’t be the only one sitting here,” she joked, adding: “I think if Archie were here and we had all these toys in the middle and I made him sit in a chair it would be so unfair.”
The not-for-profit organisation trains and employs women living with HIV as frontline health workers across eight African nations.
Meghan also seemed smitten by six-week-old Sumeya, who was asleep on her mother, Nothabo Qaga, 31.
The duchess giggled when Nothabo suggested that little Sumeya might one day marry Archie.
Limpho said she was 19, pregnant and married to a man seven years older than her when she was diagnosed with HIV.
“Did you feel scared?” asked the duchess.
“Scared, ashamed and it was just terrifying,” she replied. “One of those moments when you just want to disappear.”
With the support of mothers2mothers, Limpho said she realised she could continue to live a healthy life and she managed to deliver an HIV-free baby.
She told the royal visitor, her baby tragically died three weeks later.
“I’m so sorry,” Meghan replied, looking visibly moved.
Meghan heard how the charity has reached over 11 million women and children under two with life-changing health services and education across Africa.
She said: “Talk about important work. The work that’s being done here is really special. I see how having that shared experience creates a much stronger result.”
Meghan also spoke about enjoying the pressures of being a working mother when she met inspiring female entrepreneurs at an event in Cape Town.
“There are days when it’s a lot to juggle but then you meet someone, have an impact on them and it’s so rewarding.”
Meghan was told about the Ladies Who Launch conversation series the hub offers, which brings together a cross-section of female entrepreneurs and investors.
