Meghan Markle: 'I am here as a woman, as a woman of colour and as your sister.'

(23 Sep 2019) MEGHAN MARKLE: "I AM HERE WITH YOU AS A MOTHER, AS A WIFE, AS A WOMAN, AS A WOMAN OF COLOUR AND AS YOUR SISTER" Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, began their first official tour as a family Monday with their infant son, Archie, in South Africa, with Meghan declaring to cheers that "I am here with you as a mother, as a wife, as a woman, as a woman of color and as your sister." The first day of their 10-day, multi-country tour started in Cape Town with visits to girls' empowerment projects that teach rights and self-defense. Harry danced a bit as a musical welcome greeted them in the township of Nyanga, whose location was not made public in advance because of security concerns. The couple had travelled to the area a few miles (kilometres) out of the city centre to learn about the work the Justice Desk, a human rights organisation, is doing to support the development of Nyanga township children. The organisation is supported by the Queen's Commonwealth Trust, which has Harry as its president and Meghan as vice-president. Violent crime is so deadly in parts of Cape Town that South Africa's military has been deployed in the city, and its stay was extended last week. Frustration over high unemployment and lack of services also has exploded into protests and attacks on foreigners elsewhere in South Africa in recent weeks. "As someone who has visited this amazing country many times, and as someone who regards Cape Town as a uniquely special place in Africa, I wanted to ensure that our first visit as a family - with my wife by my side - focused on the significant challenges facing millions of South Africans, while acknowledging the hope that we feel so strongly here," the prince said. The royal couple also was meeting Monday with former residents of District Six, a vibrant mixed-race community that was relocated from the inner city during South Africa's harsh period of apartheid, or white minority rule, that ended in 1994. Their visit also will focus on wildlife protection, entrepreneurship, mental health and mine clearance - a topic given global attention by Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, when she walked through an active mine field during an Africa visit years ago. Harry later this week will break away for visits to Botswana, Angola and Malawi. While the royal visit wasn't causing the kind of excitement seen at times in other parts of the Commonwealth, some in South Africa said they were happy to see the arrival of Meghan, who has been vocal about women's rights. Prince Harry said he wanted the trip to highlight the challenges many South Africans face. "We are so incredibly grateful to be able to listen and learn from you about the issues that define your daily lives in these communities," he told the audience at Nyanga. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...