Duke and Duchess of Sussex don leis on Sydney sand to shine spotlight on mental health

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have again wowed crowds in Sydney – on the sands of Bondi beach in the morning, before the prince climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Friday afternoon.

Prince Harry and prime minister Scott Morrison climbed the bridge to raise the flag for the Invictus Games.

They were joined by Invictus ambassador Gwen Cherne whose husband, veteran Peter Cafe, took his own life last February. The games are an international Paralympic-style, multi-sporting event for wounded and sick defence force veterans and actively serving men and women, founded by the prince.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Prince Harry gives a thumbs-up as he climbs the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photograph: Rick Stevens/Reuters

It followed a busy day in Sydney for the royal couple, which began in Bondi.

They were there to shine a spotlight on mental health with a visit to the OneWave surf community support group. Its members meet every Friday morning and, dressed in bright fluorescent colours, share their struggles and head into the surf to try to heal themselves.

OneWave’s founders, Grant Trebilco and Sam Schumacher, welcomed the royals to the beach with flower leis. The couple kicked off their shoes and, holding hands, joined an “anti-bad vibe circle” on the sand.

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They listened to members’ stories of how the group has helped them. The duke, talking animatedly, told them about the mental health charity Heads Together he founded with his brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Duke and Duchess of Sussex take part in a ‘Fluro Friday’ session run by OneWave. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA

The couple also spoke to a OneWave beach yoga group before meeting surfers. One of them, Mark Micelli, asked the prince if he had ever waxed a surfboard and handed him a lump of wax.

“You want me to wax your board?” the prince asked and reached over to wax it. “Next time find someone else to do it,” he joked, before the duchess reached out to help.

“You can join in if you like,” a member of the group said, pointing to the ocean. “Too cold today,” the prince replied, before adding: “Go guys, go and get in the water.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Harry and Meghan with members of OneWave, which raises awareness about mental health and wellbeing. Photograph: Paul Edwards/AP

Trebilco, who had a manic episode and was diagnosed as bipolar six years ago, said: “The things that really saved me was surfing and the other thing was talking about it. Two of my closest friends started sharing their stories about depression and I never knew.

“It’s so hard to reach out for help. What Harry is doing with his Heads Together is amazing, letting people know it’s OK to not be OK.

“Australia loves them. They’re super passionate about mental health, they are showing that mental health does not discriminate. They’re saving lives talking about it.”

OneWave holds “Fluro Friday” sunrise sessions at beaches around the world to raise awareness about mental health.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Prince Harry and Meghan in the “anti bad vibes circle”. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

The issue is one of those closest to the prince’s heart. He has spoken in the past about his own struggles, and how he bottled up his feelings for 20 years after his mother, Diana, was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

“I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and sort of lies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle,” he said.

One of the members of the anti-bad vibe circle, Charlotte Connell, said: “Harry said each and everyone of us will experience poor mental health at some stage in our lives.

“Harry said, ‘It took me not six months, but 18 months to find the right person to speak to – you’re not going to find the right person to speak to straight away.’”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The duchess tries her hand at waxing a surfboard. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPA

Connell said both Harry and Meghan had said they use exercise as a way of keeping well. “Even in her jetlagged state she got up in the morning and did yoga at 4.30am,” she said. “She said it’s so good for healing her mind.”

Connell, who is 23 weeks pregnant, told Meghan that being pregnant felt like being jetlagged without the travel, “So for her to be jetlagged and pregnant must be pretty exhausting.”

After the OneWave event the duke and duchess met members of the public in a 20-minute walkabout, then headed west to Macarthur girls high school in Parramatta.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The royal couple during their visit to Macarthur girls high school in Sydney. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

They arrived at the school shortly after HSC students had finished an exam.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian was also on hand, as a group of dancers first entertained their royal guests with a dance to the Frankie Goes To Hollywood version of The Power of Love.

The visitors spent time talking to to the year nine students about the girls’ social justice project and youth empowerment.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Duchess of Sussex speaking to students at the western Sydney school. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

They also heard about the NRL’s League in Harmony program which aims to unite and empower young people to be advocates of positive change in their communities.