“He held our son Archie”

Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage Meghan Markle, Archie and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry paid tribute to human rights activist and anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a personal message following the death of the South African icon civil rights on Sunday at the age of 90.

“Archbishop Tutu will be remembered for his optimism, moral clarity and joyful spirit. He was an icon of racial justice and loved around the world. Just two years ago, he held our son, Archie, while we were in South Africa – ‘Arch and The Arch,’ he joked, his infectious laughter echoing through the room, relaxing all in his presence. He remained a friend and will be greatly missed,” they shared.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex memorably introduced their young son Archie, then almost 5 months old, to the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, in September 2019, during the tour royal couple in South Africa. . This outing marked Archie’s first official engagement.

Ahead of the planned meeting, the couple posted several clips with Archie on his way to meet Archbishop Tutu on their Instagram Stories on their now-defunct Sussex Royal account.

“Arch meets Archie!” they captioned a photo.

During the meeting, the royal couple enjoyed a lively, laughter-filled conversation with Archbishop Tutu and Thandeka, during which Meghan revealed Archie was “an old soul.”

Toby Melville – Swimming Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, their son Archie, meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Following the outing, the couple posted a sweet black and white photo of Archie on their Instagram, with the caption: “Thank you Bishop Tutu for your incredibly warm hospitality, Archie loved meeting you!” – The Duke and Duchess.

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The family of three received some gifts from Archbishop Tutu after the outing, including poignant photos of Archie’s late grandmother Princess Diana and children’s books (God’s Children Storybook Bible And Desmond and the wicked wordboth written by the archbishop, and a collection of children’s songs).

Toby Melville/PA Wire/PA Images The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son Archie meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at their foundation in Cape Town.

Harry previously met Archbishop Tutu during a tour of South Africa in November 2015, when the royal presented him with an honor in recognition of his services to British communities and international peace.

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Toby Melville/PA Wire/PA Images Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Archie and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Following Tutu’s death, Queen Elizabeth also issued a statement.

“I join the entire Royal Family in being deeply saddened by the news of the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a man who tirelessly championed human rights in South Africa and around the world,” he said. she declared.

“I remember with fondness my meetings with him, his great warmth and his humor,” she continued. “The loss of Archbishop Tutu will be felt by the people of South Africa and by so many in Britain, Northern Ireland and across the Commonwealth, where he was held in such affection and estimated.”