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Sussexes begin two-day Jordan tour amid royal family turmoil
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, arrived in Jordan on Wednesday for a two-day visit focused on aiding communities affected by conflict and displacement. Their trip comes as the British royal family faces scrutiny following the recent arrest of Prince Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew, on allegations of misconduct in public office.
WHO-hosted discussions and refugee camp visit
The couple, who stepped back as senior royals in 2020, were invited by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). They were greeted at the WHO's Amman office before joining a roundtable with representatives from the United Nations, diplomatic corps, and donor organizations.
Later, they traveled to the Za'atari Refugee Camp, home to families displaced by regional conflicts. There, they toured a youth center run by Questscope, a social development group offering art, music, and sports programs to support mental health. The Sussexes participated in activities, including a football match and a session with teenage girls playing traditional Arabic instruments.
Focus on health and humanitarian efforts
Over the next two days, the couple will meet Jordanian leaders and health officials, engage with WHO teams, and visit frontline health and mental health programs. They will also connect with World Central Kitchen staff coordinating food relief for Gaza from Amman.
Philip Hall, the British Ambassador to Jordan, expressed gratitude for their visit, stating, "Your support and recognition of the efforts by the United Nations, WHO, and the Jordanian government are deeply valued."
Archewell Foundation's financial contributions
In September, the Sussexes' Archewell Foundation donated $500,000 (£370,000) to projects aiding children affected by war. The grants included $200,000 (£148,000) to the WHO for medical evacuations of Gaza children to Jordan and $150,000 (£111,000) to Save the Children for humanitarian aid in Gaza. An additional $150,000 supported the Centre of Blast Injury Studies in developing prosthetics for injured children from Ukraine and Gaza.
Their partnership with the WHO dates back to 2021, when they co-hosted a UN event promoting vaccine equity and collaborated on ending violence against children.
Recent foreign engagements
The Jordan visit marks the Sussexes' first international tour together in 18 months. Their last trip, to Colombia in August 2024, included discussions with teenagers about social media's impact. Earlier that year, they traveled to Nigeria to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
Their visit follows Prince William's recent trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met young female footballers in Riyadh.
