Prince &
Royal tour couple join big beach clean-up
Words: in Melbourne, Australia
Pictures: THE Duke and Duchess of Sussex walk on Melbourne Beach, after joining a clean-up to highlight their environmental concerns.
Prince Harry spoke about his fears over plastics, especially in “fast fashion”, as he and wife Meghan helped volunteers in the city.
The couple have spoken passionately about the main principles of their trip Down Under.
Focusing on the environment, sustainability and reaching out to marginalised communities, their popularity has soared as thousands of people have flocked to see them.
The royals yesterday met a group of schoolchildren from Albert Park Primary and Albert Park College, who have been carrying out beach cleans for months as part of a school programme.
They showed Harry and Meghan their shocking haul from just one clean-up – bags of plastic cups, bottles and straws.
Speaking to student Ashley Soja, 14, the Duke said: “There is literally plastic everywhere.
“And, you know, microplastics are a real problem, especially the microplastics from fast-fashion. Did you know that’s one of the biggest culprits?”
Bonnie Sheppard, 15, said: “Meghan was really interested in the effect of microplastics. I told her that there are more microplastics in the ocean than stars in the Milky Way, which she was surprised by.”
The pregnant Duchess, in a pair of environmentally friendly shoes made from recycled water bottles, said:
“It’s amazing what you guys are doing. You’re doing a really great job.
Keep it up.”
Harry and Meghan later had a laugh and joke with schoolkids on a Melbourne tram. Princess meets her Prince