The Duchess of Sussex has sympathised with a nervous Shetland pony she met at an equestrian centre – admitting she sometimes gets a little “camera shy”.
Meghan has been photographed throughout her career as an actress and even more so now she is a member of Britain’s Royal Family – but it appears even she sometimes recoils from the limelight.
The couple were there to learn more about the country’s developing programme of equine therapy for children with special needs, funded by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, who Harry and Meghan will have an audience with later.
They watched children, who have benefited from the Equine Assisted Therapy, grooming three Shetland ponies – Caramel, Xina, and Molly.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chat to Patrick Alerini, whose private school in Rabat, Morocco brings autistic children for horse riding therapy at a prestigious riding club in the capital. pic.twitter.com/17cfGQzfns
— PA Royal Reporters (@PARoyal) February 25, 2019
“Has anyone got any carrots?” joked Harry, noticing that Molly was shaking. “She’s a bit nervous, this one,” he said.
Meghan, who is heavily pregnant, joked: “Well, we all get a little camera shy, I understand.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet disabled young people grooming horses at the Royal Equestrian Club and hear how spending time with horses is a source of therapy for them. #RoyalVisitMorocco pic.twitter.com/o7orIy9efO
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 25, 2019
When the couple first arrived they were introduced to Louis Broski, from Holland, the founder of the Centre Social Kariat in Sale, near Rabat, an organisation working with mentally and physically disabled young people.
Mr Broski, who has trained horses for more than 30 years, is one of the country’s leading figures in equine therapy.
“It was a challenge,” he told them, “I started with one child, but now 16 years later we have 100 children. My aim is for all disabled children to be fully integrated into Moroccan society.”
Harry and Meghan met Ekram, 20, who has Down Syndrome, and began riding at the club a month ago. Speaking through a translator, the rider told them:
“I love the connection with the horses, it already makes me feel relaxed and more confident. And I like being outside, with nature.”
Meghan replied: “Wow, you’re very impressive. What an accomplished lady. I imagine it’s so therapeutic as well as meditative.”
When the couple joined him for a cookery demonstration with underprivileged children in the capital Rabat, he said “Come with your baby and I will cook for all three.”
Harry – clearly inspired by the delicious spread he had sampled – replied: “We will cook for you.”
In the colourful Villa Des Ambassadeurs, a privately owned guest house set up with temporary cooking stations, the royal couple sampled an array of fragrant and spicy dishes some cooked by the children.
Also on the menu was Moroccan pancakes with honey and almond butter, a recipe by Cherine Mallah taken from the Grendel cookbook the duchess helped to produce.
Missing was the King’s wife Princess Lalla Salma, who has been the subject of much speculation after disappearing from public life more than a year ago – with rumours circulating she may be living abroad.
Harry described how he had an invitation from an unknown individual to stay on after their tour ended: “He was very keen on getting us down there two days after this trip, unfortunately we have commitments to get back to.”
He also said to the king he would not be able to take up “your fantastic invitation.”
But he added: “Next time we will schedule it properly. We will keep it very quiet from everybody out there.”
