The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in Jordan for a two-day visit focused on supporting refugees in the region.The couple began their trip with a roundtable summit discussion hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with representatives from the United Nations, diplomatic officials and donors.
The WHO’s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed them on the steps of its offices in Jordan’s capital Amman, kissing and hugging the Duchess and embracing the Duke.
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Harry and Meghan at the roundtable with senior officials. Pic: PA
During their visit, on the invitation of Dr Ghebreyesus, the Sussexes will meet Jordanian leaders, health officials and WHO teams, as well as visiting frontline health and mental health programme services.They will also meet World Central Kitchen staff co-ordinating food relief for Gaza from Amman and visit the social development organisation Questscope’s youth centre.
Their visit comes as the Royal Family has been plunged into crisis following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office last week.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Questscope Youth Centre at the Za’atari refugee camp. Pic: PA
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Meghan has a kickabout. Pic: PA
Wednesday’s roundtable was also attended by diplomats from countries including the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Canada.British ambassador to Jordan, Philip Hall, thanked the couple for coming to the country.He added: “Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including of course, the World Health Organisation, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated.”
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The couple listen to a music class at the Questscope Youth Centre. Pic: PA
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Meghan with a humanitarian worker. Pic: PA
Jordan has long been a destination for many refugees, beginning with Palestinians more than 80 years ago, who now number around 2.5 million people, and Syrians who have fled conflict in their country.The latest wave of displaced people resulted from the Gaza war, following Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October.
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The couple met with young people benefiting from youth programmes. Pic: PA
Read more:Police searches concluded at Andrew’s former residenceAustralia and NZ back plans to remove Andrew from line of successionSpeaking at the roundtable, the ambassador also touched on issues faced by Palestinians.”And of course, the last point is just to say a lasting solution of this requires a regional peace,” Mr Hall said.”It requires, in particular, peace between Palestine and Israel and the two-state solution – that’s easily said, we all know it’s very hard to achieve, but we’re all working on that too.”
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex examine some local artwork. Pic: PA
Harry and Meghan stepped down as working members of the Royal Family in 2020 and relocated to California.
The Sussexes have since carried out a number of foreign visits taking the form of official royal trips.The Duke has not yet spoken publicly about the turmoil that has engulfed his relatives.
