Baby Sussex Watch enters another week, but Prince Harry looked at ease as he attended the Virgin Money London Marathon Sunday. The Duke, who is patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust, joined thousands of runners who took to the city streets in what the @sussexroyal Instagram account called “the biggest one-day fundraising event on the planet.”
Harry handed out medals to participants, including Eliud Kipchoge, winner of the men’s London marathon, and Brigid Kosgei, the women’s winner; both hail from Kenya. Kipchoge’s incredible 2.02:37 time was a course record, as well as the second-fastest marathon time in history. Twenty-five-year-old Kosgei, who finished in 2:18:20, is the youngest woman to ever win the race.
In the wheelchair race, American Daniel Romanchuk won the men’s marathon, and Manuela Schar of Switzerland won the women’s competition. Schar has stacked up an impressive list of wins, including the Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo races.
The event, which started in 1981, marked a special milestone on Sunday, which was highlighted on the Sussexes’ Instagram account. This year the London Marathon has passed the £1 billion mark in money raised for charity.
“We have had many extraordinary days in the history of the London Marathon, but this was even more than that,” said Hugh Brasher, event director of London Marathon Events Ltd. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of a record number of runners, we have now raised more than £1bn for good causes.”
The race also celebrated the highest number of women finishers in its history this year.
Along with his medal-awarding duties, Prince Harry chatted with participants and volunteers, as well as a familiar face: his cousin, Peter Philips.
As usual, many celebrities took part in the race, including a group of EastEnders cast members who ran in support of Alzheimer’s charities for Dame Barbara Windsor. A slew of other actors, entertainers, and TV presenters ran, including Chris Evans, Helen Skelton, Candice Brown, Leon Ockenden, Jonathan Pearce, Cel Spellman, Jenni Falconer, Ed Gamble, Laura Wright, and Kirsty Gallacher.
Prince Harry’s attendance at the marathon was up in the air until the day considering his wife’s impending labour, but it looks like all is calm … for now. With the Duchess of Sussex telling well-wishers earlier this year that she was due at the end of April or beginning of May, all eyes will be on social media this week.
