A touch of Hollywood, and even a cúpla focal, as royals Harry and Meghan call over
IT was just a few hours after a tabloid royal reporter hilariously fluffed her Irish terminology on a UK morning TV show, referring to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a ‘tea set’ and here he was, the man himself, doing what looked like an ‘I’m a Little Teapot’ dance.
Leo threw shapes during something of a My Fair Lady-style crash course in how to stand and walk proper, as he waited on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the courtyard outside Government Buildings yesterday.
Lessons were dished out to Leo by a woman in red – believed to be a royal aide – as he stood by the fountain, waiting to welcome Harry and Meghan to Dublin on their first foreign trip since they tied the knot in May.
Before arriving by private jet, the newlyweds had already ratcheted up a big day in London, attending events to mark the RAF’s centenary. And all that after what one can only imagine was a late enough night, following baby Prince Louis’s christening at St James’s Palace, on Monday.
A smiling Harry was the first to step off the jet onto the tarmac at Dublin Airport, followed by Meghan, whose forest green Givenchy dress and tan heels were an appropriate choice and a big hit among fashionistas. The first port of call for the royal couple – after touching down with an 11-strong entourage – was Government Buildings for an audience with the Taoiseach.
At 6pm, the cheers from the 200 royalwatchers gathered behind barriers outside Government Buildings spilled into the courtyard, where the same number of journalists and photographers from all corners of the globe were assembled.
Meghan oozed studied Hollywood glamour as she stepped out of the car and walked slowly alongside her husband and Leo, who held court. They stopped and chatted by a plaque in the wall, laid by Harry’s great-great-great grandfather Edward VII in April 1904. Before the trio retired to Leo’s office for a private meeting, Harry and Meghan met some of his close staff and Harry took time to chat with them. .
After signing the visitors’ book – Meghan clearly delighted to be signing her first foreign visitors’ book as the Duchess of Sussex and an official member of the royal family, took great care signing her name – the couple had a private meeting with the Taoiseach.
At Chez Leo, there wasn’t a sup of the black stuff or the uisce beatha but only bottles of Ballygowan to quench the royals’ thirst.
For the good stuff, they’d have to wait
Couple already had a busy day in London
until the right royal shindig over at the British ambassador’s residence at Glencairn last night.
Well-placed sources said that during the private meeting, the Taoiseach and Prince Harry discussed the possibility of the Irish Defence Forces participating in the Invitus Games.
The Games, which were created by the Prince, offer an opportunity for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel to take part in sports, including wheelchair basketball and indoor rowing.
It was noted that other countries which limit their military activities to peacekeeping have taken part in the past.
The Duchess told the Taoiseach that she is an honourary member of the Philosophical Society in Trinity College.
And it was noted that she studied on NWU Chicago, where Mr Varadkar’s partner Dr Matt Barrett works at the University Hospital.
Later, the royal couple were escorted to the British ambassador’s residence in Sandyford, where Prince Harry delivered a short speech.
Opening his remarks with a few words in Irish, he addressed the Tánaiste Simon Coveney, the British ambassador Robin Barnett and the assembled crowd as ‘a dhaoine uaisle,’ following up quickly with: ‘Did I get that right?’ He did. Guests cheered raucously in response.
He thanked everyone for the ‘warm welcome we’ve received since being in this beautiful country’ and the Tánaiste for showing his father Prince Charles around Cork on his visit last month.
‘And it was also very nice to know
that he didn’t bore you senseless,’ he added of his father.
Prince Harry, sharing the podium with the Duchess, the Tánaiste and the Ambassador, said his father and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, had spoken warmly to him of the visits they enjoyed here in Ireland.
‘Standing here with you on this beautiful evening, it is easy to see why Ireland has such a special place in the hearts of my family and, indeed, all those who come here,’ he said.
Celebrities from the world of sports and the arts were assembled in ‘pods’ on the lawn of the ambassador’s residence, where the possibility of England winning the soccer World Cup was an icebreaker in conversations with the royal visitors. Former Leinster and Ireland rugby player Brian O’Driscoll said he asked Harry: ‘Is it coming home?’ referring to whether England would win.
Vicky Phelan, the Limerick woman who exposed the controversy around the CervicalCheck screening programme, said she was gobsmacked when the Duchess told her that she had heard of her story.
‘She said: “I have been following your story; you have been doing some great stuff”,’ said a dumbfounded Ms Phelan.
IT’S wonderful to welcome Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to these shores, and it’s an important reminder of the bonds that bind our two neighbouring nations.
Also, with Harry’s red hair and Meghan’s green dress, sure what more could we want? But with a change in the weather on the way today, we’d have to ask the royal couple one question – did you have to bring the rain with you?