Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryhad a very good reason for being late to the recent Endeavour Fund Awards.
Earlier this month, the royal coupleheld hands as they walked the red carpetfor the awards ceremony honoring service members who have used athletics or adventure to challenge themselves as part of their recovery and rehabilitation. However, a special pre-show engagement kept the parents-to-be longer than expected.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with Viv Johnston, whose special forces son Danny died from suicide last year after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Me and my family were invited to the awards ceremony, and we were told that Harry and Meghan would like to meet us,” Viv told theMirror.“I was amazed, a bit nervous but very excited. We were shown to a private room and Harry and Meghan came in. They were absolutely wonderful.”
TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty
And Harry didn’t let the awards show’s start time get in the way of his meaningful conversation about the challenges soldiers face.
Viv recalled, “Three very panicked blokes came in at one stage and said, ‘Sir, we have to go, people are waiting,’ and he said, ‘Well, I’m talking,’ and we carried on chatting.”
“Meghan was so sweet and caring,” Viv said, according to theMirror. “They both were very genuine and I was very moved that they cared so much about what had happened to Danny — that meant a lot.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty
Meghan and Harry were also curious about All Call Signs, a veterans’ mental support charity set up after her son’s death – and they took home a reminder of the organization.
“I then asked if he would like an All Call Signs wrist band,” Viv said. “I expected someone to take them away once I handed them over but both he and Meghan smiled, said thank you and put them straight on.”
And theroyal couple were on the judging panelchoosing the lucky three recipients of the awards.
Meghan Markle.TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty
Ahead of announcing the winner of the Celebrating Excellence award, Meghan told the nominees, “You don’t have the ripple effect unless each of you is brave enough to create the first wave.”
Meghan took the stage to announce the winner of the Celebrating Excellence Award. She gave a short speech, saying, “I’m so, so grateful to be back. Last year was my first time coming and it was such a meaningful night.”
Prince Harry.TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty
Since its launch in 2012, the Endeavour Fund has supported 86 different projects that have directly assisted more than 5,000 wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. Through their own fundraising, these ventures have collectively raised more than $3 million for other forces charities.
source: people.com
