Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's second day in Morocco - tattoos, baby bumps and gowns



meghan harry day 2
Hanna Fillingham
Hanna FillinghamUS Managing Editor
Updated: February 24, 2019
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, smiling and wearing a scarf, talks to a woman in a pink hijab.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were up bright and early on Sunday morning for a busy day ahead, which started with a visit to a secondary school in Asni Town in the Atlas Mountains.

MORE: LIVE UPDATES from Harry and Meghan's final tour day in Morocco

The royal couple will meet local schoolchildren and their teachers, tour the school to visit the classrooms and even watch some of the children take part in a football match. They will then stop by at the original Education For All boarding house, which works to help improved gender equality in Morocco.

While there, Prince Harry will present founder Michael McHugo an MBE for his services.

Harry and Meghan flew into Morocco on Saturday, but arrived a little later than expected due to their delayed Royal Air Maroc flight. The pair were travelling by a scheduled flight which was late arriving in the UK. The intention of their visit is to highlight Morocco's focus on women’s empowerment, girl's education, inclusivity, and the encouragement of social entrepreneurship.

We'll be updating this story with all the live pictures and information so stay tuned! 

Prince Harry shakes hands with a woman holding flowers and a Moroccan flag.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at the 'Education For All' boarding house in Asni Town, Atlas Mountains on the second day of their tour of Morocco.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, smiling and holding flags, interacts with two women in a rural setting.

The couple looked relaxed and happy as they chatted to workers at the boarding house and were gifted with flowers for Meghan. People waved flags as the pair arrived. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, smiling and holding a bouquet of flowers, stands in an outdoor setting.© Photo: Getty Images

Meghan looked was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers as she arrived for her morning engagement in Morocco on Sunday 

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sit with two women in traditional attire, sharing a moment.© Photo: Getty Images

Meghan's henna tattoo is just like the Duchess of Cambridge's, who too had a flower design on her right hand when she was seven months pregnant with Prince Louis.

Two people, one with henna designs on their hand, wearing a striped shirt and a ring.© Photo: Getty Images

Meghan was given a henna tattoo by 17-year-old Samira who has lived in Asni for 6 years - the henna flower was created on Meghan’s right hand to celebrate her pregnancy as per Moroccan tradition.

WATCH: Meghan receives her henna tattoo - video

When the art work was completed Meghan said, "That’s really lovely" and proudly showed it to husband Prince Harry, 34, who was sitting next to her. Meghan added, "It will dry for a little bit and then we can walk through." 

Samira explained, "It is a traditional practice for pregnant women in Moroccan. It is to bring luck for the baby."

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, sit together on a couch, smiling.

The couple seemed delighted with Meghan's pretty new body art and shared a sweet moment as Harry sat with his hand protectively around his wife's back. 

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stand with a group of women in traditional clothing, holding flags.

Meghan and Harry posed for a photograph outside the boarding house with all the girls and teachers. Meghan lovingly cradled her growing baby bump as she smiled broadly in the warm Moroccan sun. 

During her trip, Meghan had conversed with the girls in French. 

She asked, "Qu'est ce que tu veux être quand tu quittes l’école? (What do you want to be when you leave school?)". She also asked, "Vous voulez aller à l’université, (Do you want to go to university?)" and was very impressed when the girls told her they wanted to be teachers, engineers and doctors. "Big dreams."

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, kneels with a child, drawing on her hand with henna, surrounded by onlookers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex got down to a child's level to meet sisters Rania, 5 and Ayhana, 2 Minejem on the second day of their tour of Morocco. Meghan gleefully showed the two little girls her pretty tattoo. 

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walking hand in hand outside a pink building.

Now for some official business! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived to invest Michael McHugo, the founder of 'Education for All', with an MBE during their visit to the original 'Education For All' boarding house in Asni Town, Atlas Mountains.

MORE: Get all the details of Meghan's outfit 

It's the second day of their tour of Morocco and the sun is shining brightly. Meghan and Harry are holding hands - looking as loved up as usual on their last tour before they become parents. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a blue suit, shakes hands with students holding flags.© Photo: Getty Images

During the walkabout, Harry and Meghan stopped to chat to locals who had been waiting to meet them. Meghan was all smiles as she shook hands with the crowds - who were holding up Union Jack flags in their honour. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stands with Prince Harry by a fence, talking to a woman in a hijab.© Photo: Getty Images

During the visit, Harry and Meghan watched a game of football, and enthusiastically watched on from the sides, cheering on the schoolchildren taking part in the tournament. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stands with Prince Harry, engaging with a group of young people in sports uniforms.

Harry is a huge sports fans, and very much enjoyed watching the football match.

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stand close together, smiling, in front of a fence.

Meghan rested her head on Harry during a sweet moment on their Morocco visit. The couple were a hit with the schoolchildren that were lucky enough to meet them on Sunday. Harry jokingly apologised to them for making them come to school on their weekend. 

Prince Harry stands in a classroom with students and educators, engaging in conversation.

While chatting to children in the classroom

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stand in a classroom, speaking to students.

During their trip to the class, five youngsters  delivered short speeches about themselves in English, thanking them for coming to their school. Making eye contact with each speaker, the Duchess mouthed "very well done" to one young woman who beamed as she reached the end without a mistake. The Duke and Duchess both seemed particularly pleased when one student said "I hope you like the diverse culture" of Morocco, smiling broadly.

When one pupil described his hobby as watching American movies, the Duke grinned and looked at his wife, a former actress. "Thank you very much," said the Duchess at the end. "You’re all very impressive."

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walking hand-in-hand on a red carpet.

Meghan wears a Dior kaftan style gown for the evening reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco. 

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walking on a red carpet, holding hands.

The radiant Duchess accessorised with golden touches. Get full outfit details here. 

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a white dress, holds a bouquet of roses and ferns, bending to smell them.© Photo: Rex

The royal couple walked up a red carpet, that had been laid for their arrival, before being handed two bouquets of colourful roses by Mr Reilly’s two daughters Orla, 12 and Elsa, eight.

Meghan smiled as she took a bouquet from Orla, saying: "Thank you, that is so kind, they are beautiful". 

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, receive flowers from a young girl.© Photo: PA

The Duchess introduced her husband, turning to him saying: "This is Harry," as the Duke bent down to shake the sisters’ hands.  After asking Elsa her name Meghan was handed a second bouquet, which she smelt exclaiming: "Wow, they are so sweet".

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, receive a gift from a woman in traditional attire.© Photo: PA
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a white gown, converses with a group of formally dressed individuals.© Photo: PA

The Duke and Duchess were then welcomed by guests from across Moroccan society including young leaders, entrepreneurs, business representatives and influential people from local girls’ education and sport.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in a white gown, converses with individuals in traditional attire.© Photo: PA

"Women have to challenge everywhere in the world," the Duchess told a group of female executives and entrepreneurs.

Meghan, who has made women's empowerment a key part of her campaigning work, was responding to Meriem Bensalah, chief executive of a finance and agricultural firm called the Holmarcom Group, who told her that Moroccan women had made great advances towards equality but still faced disadvantages. "We were discussing how there are still many boundaries all over the world," the business executive said. 

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