Meghan Markle, Prince Harry step out after blunt statement - NEWS.com.au

Prince Harry has opened up about his love of Africa after first visiting while “trying to cope with something I can never possibly describe” on the final day of the royal tour.

The comments are the first the Duke of Sussex made in public since publishing an extraordinary statement lashing the British tabloid press for its treatment of his wife, Meghan.

On Tuesday, the young father slammed the “ruthless campaign” from the British tabloids, saying his deepest fear was “history repeating itself” in reference to the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

The statement also announced the Duchess of Sussex would take legal action against the Mail on Sunday after it published a letter she wrote to her father, Thomas Markle.

The Mail on Sunday said it would defend the case “vigorously”.

“We categorically deny that the duchess’s letter was edited in any way that changed its meaning,” as spokesman said.

On the final day of the tour the couple visited a township near Johannesburg. Later on Wednesday they will meet Graca Machel, the widow of the late former President, Nelson Mandela.

Prince Harry told the crowd during one of his final stops: “I wanted to try and answer a more specific question for myself — what is the essence of Africa? Why is it that so many visitors feel Africa gets under our skin and into our soul?”

“Ever since I came to this continent as a young boy, trying to cope with something I can never possibly describe, Africa has held me in an embrace that I will never forget, and I feel incredibly fortunate for that,” he said.

MORE: Harry steps into dangerous new territory

“And as I raise my own son, I want to make sure that what I’ve learned here — the value of the natural world, the value of community and friendship — is something that I can pass on to him.”

In comments that echo what he wrote about standing up for his wife, Prince Harry said he and Meghan will “firmly stand up for what we believe.”

“We are fortunate enough to have a position that gives us amazing opportunities, and we will do everything that we can to play our part in building a better world,” he said.

The Duchess of Sussex also praised those they met and said she was grateful for being able to visit the country.

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet with all of you, to be able to feel inspired and for welcoming us so warmly, strongly, beautifully to your country, we’ve loved it. Thank you,” she said.

The dramatic statement from Prince Harry came just days after he followed in his late mother’s footsteps by walking the streets of Angola and visited a minefield in a continuation of her work to achieve a global ban on landmines.

The strength of Prince Harry’s emotion has taken royal watchers by surprise, particularly as it came at the end of a highly successful South Africa tour.

Prince Charles biographer Penny Junor said it was “way beyond anything I have ever seen issued by a member of the royal family.”

Majesty editor Ingrid Seward told The Times “I don’t think the Queen would have necessarily known about this and this throws a vast cloud over a very successful tour … Harry should be aiming his anger at the abusive internet trolls, not the royal press.”

In the letter, Prince Harry slammed the “human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face — as so many of you can relate to — I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been.

“The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave. She is the same woman she was a year ago on our wedding day, just as she is the same woman you’ve seen on this Africa tour.”

“Though this action may not be the safe one, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces,” he said.

The couple will return to London later on Wednesday.

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