A message of hope as pupils urged to help build peace
IT’S not every day 2,500 school children have to be up well before dawn.
But then, it’s not every day a princess-to-be comes to town — and a Hollywood star to boot.
It was all hush-hush until the last minute, but primary and post-primary pupils were told to expect something special.
They certainly weren’t disappointed — after all, what could be more special than Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle turning up during an unannounced visit for an Amazing the Space celebration?
As an actress, the 36-year-old princess-in-waiting specialises in make-believe, but she certainly seemed to be enjoying her first official trip to Northern Ireland as part of a Royal couple.
The cross-community concert at the recently built Eikon Centre, organised by Co-operation Ireland, saw youngsters from both sides of the community share their hopes and dreams of a peaceful and reconciled future.
The prince and the US star stunned a huge crowd of unsuspecting children when they arrived in Lisburn yesterday.
Harry (33) grinned and looked at Meghan as they walked towards their seats in the front row of the performance arena. They watched an hour-long fusion of song, dance and uplifting messages from young people who delivered their “peace pledges”.
Afterwards, the happy couple met singer Emma Horan (19), and their host, clergyman Rev David Latimer, suggested that Emma could sing at their wedding on May 19. An enthusiastic Harry grinned in response while Meghan clapped her hands.
Prince Harry, who was dressed in a grey jacket, dark trousers, dark shoes and blue jumper, has been a key supporter of Amazing the Space, officially launching the project on his visit to Belfast last September.
“The previous generations have caused such problems but with your help it can never happen again,” he said as he met some of the school children involved in the project.
“You’re trying to educate the older generation which is just amazing. Well done. Clean the slates guys, you got this!”
In response to his enthusiastic comments, Meghan laughed and joked: “No pressure.”
Harry, who’s Captain General of the Royal Marines, replied that “over the years religion has divided us but we’re all the same underneath”, days after it was revealed that Meghan, who attended a Catholic school, had been recently been baptised into the Church of England.
He added: “The most important thing is that the door is open and you just keep pushing at it. Ten, 15 years ago you would have been up against the tide, but you’re going with it now. Keep it up.”
St Joseph’s Boys’ School Derry pupil Ryan McCallion (17), who welcomed the couple to the exhibition centre and later chatted to Harry and Meghan, said he was surprised at how down-to-earth they were.
“We talked about how windy and cold it was,” he said. “I expected them to put themselves on a pedestal but they weren’t like that at all. They were really nice; so humble and friendly. I’ll remember this day for a very long time.”
Caoishe McLaughlin (18), from St Brigid’s College in Londonderry, said Harry congratulated them on how well everything was working.
“I’m still in shock. He was so nice,” she said. “They were both so relaxed which was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be very formal.”
Foyle College student Amber Hamilton (17), who presented Meghan with flowers upon arrival, described their encounter as “surreal”.
“We only found out who we were meeting two minutes beforehand. It’s all a blur,” she said.
“We were joking about the wind and how it could have blown her away. She’s so lovely. She looked amazing.”
The Londonderry pupil added: “Prince Harry winked at me as he walked away. That was the moment I came for!”
Rossa Smallman (17), from St Joseph’s in Derry, said the couple were “just like normal people”.
“I shook hands with them and they made me feel very much at ease,” he said.
St Mary’s College Derry pupil Kayleigh Doherty (17), who helped compere at the event, presented Harry with a picture of a “peace tree” when he and Meghan briefly joined some of the performers on stage at the end of the event.
“I felt so special being involved,” she said.
“I thanked him for coming and supporting us and he said it was a great initiative and congratulated us.
“Meghan is so gorgeous. Her outfit was great and she’s so down-to-earth.”
Peter Sheridan, chief executive of Co-operation Ireland, said the special visitors were inspired by the young people. “They really engaged with each other; it was fantastic,” he said.
“We’ve always taken the view it may be the next generation who’ll finish the peace process and we’re reaching out to them now.”