Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Unannounced Middle East Tour Puts Gaza’s Displaced Children In Focus

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a surprise visit to the Middle East, which appears to be a deeply personal one.

During this two-day humanitarian tour to Jordan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spotlighted displaced Palestinian children who had been evacuated amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

The visit was in partnership with the World Health Organisation, announced just mere hours before the couple’s arrival. According to the Sussex office, the visit is a “humanitarian health response, mental health and support for vulnerable communities affected by conflict and displacement.”

The royal couple – who stepped back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family six years ago – met with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and regional aid leaders in the Jordanian capital Amman followed by a visit the the Specialty Hospital, where they spent time with young patients brought from Gaza for urgent treatment – a programme supported by their Archewell Foundation.

The initiative forms part of a wider effort to position Jordan as a critical medical hub for children caught in the war, a mission closely aligned with the couple’s long-standing focus on recovery, trauma care and long-term rehabilitation.

One survivor included 17-year-old Jaber whose legs had been severely injured by gun shots when he was on a journey to collect food for his family in Gaza. His legs are now held in place by a metal frame. “I’m so glad you’re getting the treatment that you need,” Meghan told the Palestinian teenager.

“We remain deeply committed to advancing awareness, reducing stigma and expanding access to mental health support for all those affected by conflict and crisis,” Prince Harry said during the trip.

The visit also highlighted the escalating food crisis in Gaza. On their final day, the Duke and Duchess met the teams at World Central Kitchen’s regional headquarters in Amman to learn more about the organisation’s large-scale meal distribution across the Strip.

While the focus remained firmly on Gaza, the itinerary reflected the region’s overlapping humanitarian realities. The couple travelled to Za’atari, which is one of the world’s largest refugee camps for displaced Syrians, where they joined art, music and sports activities with young residents and met organisations delivering community-based mental-health support.

Notably, this marks their first official overseas humanitarian trip since 2024 and was carried out independently rather than on behalf of the UK government, although the royal family was informed of the plans.

Last month, Prince Harry’s brother, Prince William, also visited the Middle East on an official tour to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.