Meghan escapes baby shower criticism on three-day Morocco trip
Written by News on 24/02/2019
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been greeted by a guard of honour as they arrived in Morocco for a three-day tour.
After a 90-minute delay, Harry and Meghan flew into Casablanca, famous for the romantic Hollywood film.
But this is a business trip for the royal couple, and their second major overseas tour, as they visit Morocco on behalf of the government and the Foreign Office.
With Meghan’s baby due in April or May, the Palace confirmed that medical provisions had been made. It is not unusual for doctors to travel as part of the royal party, although officials did not go into detail.
The couple are staying privately as guests of the king of Morocco in a royal residence.
They will use the visit to highlight their interest in issues around female empowerment, inclusivity, education for women and girls, and encouraging young entrepreneurs.
Morocco is seen as a key focus for UK foreign policy, as a gateway to Africa.
Speaking ahead of the visit, ambassador to Morocco Thomas Reilly said: “It is hugely exciting to have The Duke and Duchess of Sussex here for the next few days, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to showcase the vital roles that girls’ education and youth empowerment are playing in shaping modern Morocco.
“When we began planning for this visit, I had a very clear view in my mind of the story we wanted this visit to tell.
“It is the same story that we have been telling consistently at this embassy about Morocco since my arrival here 20 months ago, and in a fortunate stroke of serendipity, we have found that this story fits with interests close to their hearts.”
In the medina in Rabat, Sky News met 18-year-old Loubna Ouraich.
She is from a Berber family that live in a village near the Atlas Mountains. Her father is a teacher and encouraged her and her sisters to study.
She is the first woman in her family to go to university and is studying French literature in Rabat.
She told Sky News she admires what Meghan stands for: “I saw some pictures of her in all the world, doing a lot of things, a lot of beautiful things for humanity, humans, helping poor people and that was so great.
“And when I see her I just remember the Princess Diana, she’s wonderful.”
It comes at the end of a busy few days for the duchess who spent most of last week in New York with her friends, who put on an opulent baby shower.
The private baby shower became a very public event with journalists tipped off about the event.
Her friends reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to spoil Meghan and cover the cost of penthouse suites and private jets.
The cost and the way it was managed has come in for some criticism.
Arthur Edwards, royal photographer for The Sun, said: “I remember going to New York with Princess Diana, and she used to stay at the Carlisle, very sort of small hotel, but beautifully smart.
“And there used to be about four of us waiting outside for her to come and go, you know completely different, and she’d come out and give us a smile and get into the car – but I mean Meghan it was a massive showbiz event.
“She’s become America’s Diana, she’s so massive now.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will fly into the Atlas Mountains on Sunday to carry out engagements in Asni town where they will visit the Education For All boarding house that houses girls aged 12 to 18 to make sure girls in rural communities get access to secondary education.
(c) Sky News 2019: Meghan escapes baby shower criticism on three-day Morocco trip
