Harry and Meghan land in Jordan as they start two-day go to to focus on plight of individuals compelled out of their properties by conflict

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have landed in Jordan as they begin a two-day visit in a bid to highlight the struggles of people impacted by conflict and displacement. 

The couple, who stepped down as working royals in 2020, have travelled to the Middle Eastern country after being invited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom. 

The couple, who now live in Montecito, California, are also scheduled to visit initiatives they have helped fund to medically evacuate children from war-torn Gaza to Jordan. 

Dr Adhanom warmly welcomed the Sussexes as they ascended the steps of the WHO office in the Jordanian capital of Amman. kissing and hugging the Duchess while also embracing the Duke. 

Their visit comes during a time of crisis for the royal family, following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. The 66-year-old remains on bail.  

Making his first appearance since his uncle’s unprecedented arrest, the Duke of Sussex wore cream coloured trousers and a shirt alongside his wife, who donned a white suit. 

Harry has not spoken out about the current turmoil engulfing his family beyond a brief mention in his autobiography, Spare. 

At the time, he wrote that despite Andrew facing allegations of sexual assault in connection with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, there was no suggestion he would lose his taxpayer-funded security. 

Last May, Harry lost a Court of Appeal challenge over his security arrangements in the UK after being stripped of his automatic right to armed police protection after stepping back from his duties as a working royal.  

But in a major U-turn, the Home Office is said to have now ordered a full threat assessment for the first time since 2020, amid reports Harry’s taxpayer-funded armed protection will be reinstated for visits to the UK.

Since moving to California in 2020 for a new life the Sussexes have carried out a number of foreign visits that have taken the form of official trips they made when still part of ‘The Firm’ as the royal family is colloquially known.

During their two-day visit, the Sussexes will meet Jordanian leaders and senior health officials, engage with WHO teams, visit frontline health and mental health programmes, as well as World Central Kitchen staff coordinating food relief for Gaza from Amman.

They will also visit the social development organisation Questscope’s youth centre to hear from young people participating in creative and wellbeing programmes.

Their charitable organisation has also worked with the organisation on its global initiative to help end violence against children. 

Harry and Meghan first partnered with WHO on a global campaign to drive vaccine equity, which was co-hosted at a high-level event at the UN General Assembly in 2021. 

Today, they sat alongside senior figures from the UNWRA, UNHCR, World Food Programme, UNICEF, as well as diplomatic representatives from the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Germany and the EU. 

Britain’s Ambassador to Jordan, Philip Hall, thanked the Sussexes for travelling to the Middle East, saying their attendance was ‘much appreciated’. 

‘So I would simply say thank you very much indeed for coming,’ he added.

‘Your visit, your support, your appreciation of the efforts that the United Nations, including, of course, the World Health Organisation, the government of Jordan and others, are making here is enormously appreciated. So thank you for coming.’

Jordan has received wave after wave of refugees beginning with Palestinians more than 80 years ago, who now number around 2.5 million people, and Syrians who fled conflict in their country until recently ruled by President Bashar al-Assad.

The latest wave of displaced people has flowed from the Israeli government’s Gaza war against Hamas, launched after Hamas atrocities committed during the October 7 attacks.

The ambassador also told the assembled group about one of the developments needed to resolve the issues faced by Palestinians: ‘And of course, the last point is just to say a lasting solution of this requires a regional peace.

‘It requires, in particular, peace between Palestine and Israel and the two state solution – that’s easily said, we all know it’s very hard to achieve, but we’re all working on that too.’

Their recent visit to Jordan comes after reports emerged suggesting Meghan is planning a return to British soil this summer for the first time in four years.  

However, it is said she will only set foot on the island if security arrangements are put in place for her and Prince Harry. 

It is believed the 44-year-old will join her husband at the upcoming Invictus Games one-year countdown in Birmingham on July 10, ahead of next year’s event. 

She has attended similar ceremonies in both Canada and Germany, and sources say she is keen to do the same in the UK, provided safety concerns are handled.  

In December, Prince Harry was said to be thrilled the Home Office was reviewing his security provisions in the UK following a long-running legal battle. 

Of Meghan’s potential British visit this summer, a source told The Sun: ‘Security is always going to be the deciding factor in this.’ 

The Invictus Games were founded by Harry to support wounded and injured service personnel and veterans.

And although official details of the Birmingham countdown celebrations have yet to be confirmed, ceremonial appearances involving the Sussexes are expected.

It would mark Meghan’s first trip back to Britain since September 2022, when she attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. 

Harry’s security arrangements are currently being reviewed by Ravec, a committee made up of police, royal and government experts. 

The Duke has repeatedly said he does not believe it is safe to bring his family to the UK without adequate protection.

Plans are reportedly well advanced for Meghan to travel to the Midlands to support the event, but only if the review concludes in their favour. A decision is expected later this month.

It remains unclear whether the couple’s children would accompany them. Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, have not been in the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, when there were scattered boos as Meghan arrived for a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.