Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Volunteer At LA Organization; Duke Of Sussex Hugs Charity Worker

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have left the royal family and stepped down from their duties, but this doesn't mean they have stopped being active in charity work. On Tuesday (June 23), the Duke and Duchess of Sussex volunteered at a Los Angeles non-profit organization.

Homeboy Industries, the organization that hires ex-gang members and others trying to start their lives anew, got a visit from Prince Harry and wife Markle, who assisted the employees in preparing meals for people in need. This was part of the #FeedHOPE initiative in Los Angeles.

“They helped bake bread and they helped package all these meals that go to seniors and to foster care youth and folks who are having a difficult time during the pandemic,” Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries told Us Weekly.

The founder of the organization further revealed that it was the former “Suits” actress who reached out to him two weeks prior to the visit. Apparently, Markle wanted to “talk about what was happening in our country at the moment.”

This checks out with reports that the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry have been keeping busy educating themselves with the current issues and learning from the community they are in.

“She’s quite a deep thinker on these issues, so it was really a stimulating conversation, and then it was followed up with, ‘Hey, we want to come by,’” Boyle shared.

He also said that the couple didn’t just want to discuss or have a tour because they wanted to pitch in. Boyle said that the royal volunteers also hoped to make an impact. However, Prince Harry and Markle didn’t just go there to help the employees.

Boyle narrated how Prince Harry went out of his way and set social distancing protocols aside when he comforted a crying woman who had just lost the father of her child.

“Harry just held her. It was very sweet, very sweet. But it was kind of raw for her. Harry was immediate. He just threw her arms around her and held her for a long time. It was very, very touching,” Boyle said.

Markle and her mom, Doria Ragland, previously volunteered for the same organization.