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British RoyalsThe Sussexes

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to undertake their first Royal visit of the year in Merseyside

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to carry out their first engagement of the year as they visit Birkenhead on the 14th of January.

The Duke and Duchess will first visit Hamilton Square to view a newly erected sculpture that commemorates the 100th anniversary of Wilfred Owen’s death. Wilfred Owen was a renowned poet and soldier during the First World War. He died in combat exactly one week before the signing of the Armistice.

The sculpture, cast in Bronze and named “Futility” after one of Owen’s poems depicts an exhausted World War One soldier.

The Duke and Duchess will meet local veterans, as well as members of the Birkenhead Institute Old Boys which helped play a role in the creation of the tribute, before meeting members of the public in Hamilton Square.

They will visit Tommorow’s Women Wirral, an organisation that supports women in vulnerable circumstances. The organisation offers workshops and training courses for 6000 women, as well as support groups for mental health, domestic abuse, and addiction. While visiting Tomorrow’s Women Wirral, the Duke and Duchess will hear first-hand accounts of the women’s experiences, before visiting the Inspiration Hall.

They will then visit Hive Wirral Youth Zone. The Youth Zone, developed by Onside Youth Zones, provides a safe environment where young people can enjoy themselves while building on key skills and developing confidence. The couple will meet young visitors to the Youth Zone as they take part in activities and workshops before they unveil a plaque to mark the Royal visit.

Frank Field, the MP for Birkenhead who invited the Royal couple to visit,  said that “Although there are hundreds of projects I’d like the couple to see, the groups they will be meeting next week are characteristic of so much of the good work going on in Birkenhead.”