Gushing praise from prince for fiancee who’ll work with him
PRINCE Harry used his first speech as a Commonwealth youth ambassador yesterday to make it clear he and Meghan Markle intend to be a highpowered royal double act.
He drew cheers from the crowd when he said his fiancee is ‘hugely excited’ to be joining him in his new role.
His comments came as he helped open the Youth Forum that launched this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London.
After days of speculation over whether Prince Charles would be made next head of the Commonwealth, Harry made a point of mentioning his father in his speech yesterday, as well as the Queen.
He said: ‘In my new role, I will work to support the Queen, my father the Prince of Wales and my brother William, all of whom know that young people are the answer to the challenges of today.
‘I am also incredibly grateful that the woman I am about to marry, Meghan, will be joining me in this work, which she too is hugely excited to take part in.’
The role of youth ambassador is considered particularly important because 60 per cent of the total population of the Commonwealth’s 53 member nations is aged under 30.
Harry said he took inspiration for his new role from ‘the ultimate source of guidance on all things Commonwealth – the words of the Queen herself’.
He revealed that he and Miss Markle will make travel in the Commonwealth a priority after their wedding next month.
He said: ‘All of us here today can be grateful that it is a long life the Queen is still enjoying.
‘Her Majesty’s commitment has meant that the Commonters
wealth is a thriving family of nations, a common link between nearly two and a half billion people, and a defender of democracy, justice and peace.
‘I believe firmly that central to the Queen’s success in supporting the Commonwealth has been her constant focus on not just the prime minis
and presidents of member nations, but on the people themselves.’
He added: ‘Both here in the UK and as I travel, my job will be to listen to you. My duty will be to ensure that your ideas, concerns, thoughts and hopes are heard.
‘It is an honour to be the Queen’s ambassador to a generation that inspires me every single day. I am here to support you. And I cannot wait to see what you are going to achieve together.’
Prince Harry was joined by Theresa May at the event, just days after it was revealed that the Prime Minister is among those, including President Donald Trump, who will not be attending the royal wedding on May 19.
‘She is hugely excited’