The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made an unannounced visit to Macarthur Girls’ High School in Sydney yesterday, visiting students for about 30 minutes.
Only the headteacher, the deputy headteacher and the groundsman knew that Harry and Meghan were coming. The students knew they were going to be visited by the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, who asked the students, “You knew I was coming. Did you know anyone else was coming?”
Then, Harry and Meghan walked in.
Meghan talked to the students about her own educational past, how she went to an all-girls school as well.
“You guys all remind me so much of myself when I was growing up. I went to an all-girls school which was incredibly diverse as well.”
Meghan continued, “I think being around such empowered young women, it becomes something that you all just grasp onto to understand your world. It’s made you confident, well-spoken. You have an intention set to really do something to change the world, and you have to keep it up.”
Harry and Meghan watched a dance performance, set to music by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and met with students involved in the ‘In League in Harmony Youth Advocate’ programme, which encourages young people to be advocates for change in their communities.
The royal couple also discussed social issues with the students before leaving.
Speaking to the media afterwards, students remarked on their royal visitors.
One student told Ten News that, “They didn’t tell us the royals were coming. If I knew, I would’ve looked nicer.”
“It was a lovely experience,” said a 15-year-old girl named Maithly to SBS News. “…beyond anything I would have ever expected.”
Another student named Rhiannon, also 15, said, “When they walked in I felt like my heart stopped. Their presence just made everyone shocked. I never thought this would actually happen at our school.”
