Royals’ radio station visit defies convention
BRITAIN: Arm in arm or holding hands, Prince Harry and his brideto-be, Meghan Markle, made their first appearance of the new year yesterday, meeting a crowd of excited fans during a visit to the Brixton neighbourhood of London.
The couple, who are set to marry on May 19 at Windsor Castle, looked distinctly loved up, smiling warmly at wellwishers as they dropped in at a formerly underground radio station, Reprezent 107.3FM, to see its programme training youths in radio and broadcasting.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of the multicultural neighbourhood and cheered when the couple arrived. Station founder Shane Carey said news of their visit had caused ‘‘massive excitement’’ in the area.
The radio station, housed inside shipping containers in the south London district, is supported by the charitable foundation of Harry, his brother Prince William and William’s wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Markle will join the foundation after she marries Harry.
It was Harry and Markle’s second public event together since the fifth in line to the British throne and the American actress announced their engagement in November.
It was unusual in that royal fiancees have rarely appeared in public together before the wedding, and because of their destination. Brixton is home to many Britons of African and Caribbean descent, and conflicts between police and residents broke out there in the 1980s and 1990s.
Markle, 36, appeared delighted to be there and by the welcome, as did Harry.
The two made a point of reaching out to greet and shake hands with wellwishers. Already in royal training, Markle accepted gifts of flowers from the crowd.
‘‘Times are changing,’’ said Daniel Solomon, 31, who runs a health and wellness shop in Brixton. ‘‘She’s mixed-race. Obviously, that doesn’t happen often in the royal family. It’s a good thing. That marriage supersedes the concept of royalty.’’