Prince Harry ‘Stepped Back Into his Royal Shoes’ During LA Wildfires Visit
Despite being five years removed from royal life, Prince Harry showed he can easily snap back into his royal ways while meeting with victims and first responders of the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles, Calif., area with Meghan Markle. Ahead, details on their visit and what a body language expert had to say.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Eaton Fire victims on Jan. 10, 2025
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went to the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025, to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eton Fire (via People).
The pair, who live in Montecito, Calif., about 90 miles north of L.A., served meals and spoke with victims. Harry and Meghan also thanked first responders with the city’s mayor, Victor Gordo, as well as Jennifer Siebel Newson, California’s First Partner.
Harry and Meghan’s LA wildfires visit also included meeting with World Central Kitchen founder, chef José Andrés, at food stations. Andrés has a longstanding partnership with the couple. He’s worked with Harry and Meghan as part of their Archewell Foundation, even writing about them for their Time 100 cover.
Meghan, an L.A. native, later announced her decision to postpone the release of her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. Originally set to begin streaming on Jan. 15, 2025, it will now debut on March 4, 2025. “I’m thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California,” Meghan said in a statement to Tudum.
Harry and Meghan have also opened up their Montcito mansion to loved ones who were forced to evacuate their homes. They’re also offering resources via their Archewell Foundation.
Harry returned to his old ‘royal role’ during LA wildfires visit
He may not officially represent the monarchy these days (the Sussexes left royal life in 2020) but Harry sure looked like it when he and Meghan met with families and witnessed damage from the LA wildfires, according to body language expert Judi James.
“It looks as though he has fallen into the kind of royal role he would have played after tragedies or disasters in the UK,” James told the UK’s Express examining images of Harry and Meghan during their visit. Across the pond—the Atlantic Ocean—she added, “this kind of photo opportunity would have been seen as a way of boosting morale and ensuring attention.”
While Harry appeared “a little distracted at one point” and, perhaps, “at a loss to know how to react,” he “mirror[ed]” Meghan “by placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder.”
The 40-year-old father of two, she added, looked “more assured with the man, cupping the side of his face before offering a very close hug of what looks like sympathy.”
Harry and Meghan received criticism for their LA wildfires visit
Following the couple’s visit, Family Ties alum Justine Bateman took to X, formerly Twitter, lambasting Harry and Meghan in a viral post for being “disaster tourists.”
“Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved,” the actor and filmmaker wrote. “They are ‘touring the damage?’ Are they politicians now? They don’t live here; they are tourists. Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire.”
Afua Hagan, a U.K.-based royal commentator had a different view on Harry and Meghan’s visit, calling it “more of the same” from the pair. “It’s typical. It’s more of the same,” Hagan told Newsweek. “The motto of Archewell is ‘show up and do good’ and that’s what they did and they’re panned for it.”
Harry and Meghan started their Archewell Foundation after relocating to California in 2020. Since then they’ve launched various charitable initiatives.
The commentator also noted Prince William and Kate Middleton have made similar visits. “The Prince and Princess of Wales have gone to many a food bank, many a soup kitchen doing the same, showing up and doing good. But only Harry and Meghan seem to get the criticism for it.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
