Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have paid a visit to a school in Harlem where 94 percent of children get free meals, with the duchess wearing a $7,500 designer pant suit to read from her own book.
The Sussexes arrived at Harlem’s PS 123 Mahalia Jackson school alongside New York City Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter late Friday morning, after leaving their luxury hotel in Manhattan in their fleet of gas-guzzling SUVs for day two of their three-day New York City tour.
Meghan sported a $5,840 Loro Piana cashmere coat and matching $1,680 pants for her visit to the public school which was touted as a way to promote early literacy.
She accessorized her look with almost $300,000 worth of jewelry including her £271,000 engagement ring, a $3,300 diamond ring from her first engagement with Harry as his fiance, Princess Diana’s £17,800 Cartier tank watch and a gold bracelet.
Data from NYC Department of Education reveals an estimated 95 percent of students at the public school fall on the economic need index, meaning they face economic hardship, based on temporary housing, eligibility for public assistance and Census poverty rates.
A total of 94 percent of students are also eligible for free meals, according to Public School Review.
The couple had been spotted exiting the Carlyle Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with their beefed-up security to embark on what is expected to be another day of mystery meetings and engagements around the Big Apple.
The couple kicked off the first day of their tour Thursday rubbing shoulders with New York lawmakers and UN officials as well as paying their respects to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at Ground Zero.
They also visited the offices of the World Health Organization (WHO) where they held a meeting with Chelsea Clinton, health officials and other experts to discuss vaccine equity – ahead of their appearance at Saturday’s Global Citizen concert.
Last night, Harry, 37, was then spotted in Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel chatting animatedly with the people at his table – with no sign of Meghan, 40, in sight.
They are staying at the lavish hotel, where top-tier rooms cost up to $8,800 a night, during what is their first major public appearance since they shocked the world by stepping back as senior working members of the royal family last January.
Meghan Markle arrives at a school in Harlem, Manhattan, to kick off day two of their three-day New York City tour
Meghan sported a $5,840 cashmere coat and matching $1,680 pants for her visit to the public school where 94 percent of students are eligible for free meals, according to Public School Review
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Harry steps out of his gas-guzzling SUV to arrive at Harlem’s PS 123 Mahalia Jackson school for Friday morning’s visit
Meghan read her children’s book The Bench to a group of second-grade students (aged around seven) at the public school
The Sussexes posed for photos with students at PS 123 Mahalia Jackson school as they showed the couple a mural in the yard
Students showed the couple a brightly colored mural in the playground, before they posed for photos in front of it
Meghan puts her arm around a child who appears to be emotional meeting the former working members of the royal family
The visit to the school marked the start of the second day of their three-day trip to the Big Apple in their first major public appearance since quitting the royal family
The duchess opted for a head to toe red number, with loose-fitting trousers, stiletto court shoes and coat (left). The prince chose beige chinos and a long-sleeve navy polo shirt (right)
The Bench, released on June 8, explores the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’
She took to the stage at an outdoor reading event to read her children’s book The Bench to a group of second-grade students.
Students showed the couple a brightly colored mural in the playground, while Meghan put her arms around some of the children and posed for photos.
Both Meghan and Harry opted for more casual looks for the visit to the school in Harlem, compared to their business-like attire the day before.
The duchess opted for a head to toe red number, with loose-fitting pants, stiletto court shoes and a cashmere coat.
The pant suit is by Loro Piana with the coat costing $5,840 and the pants $1,680.
For a second day in a row, she appeared to dress for the fall in the coat – after social media users were baffled by her choice of black turtle neck and heavy coats during Thursday’s outing despite New York City’s balmy 80F heat.
The prince, meanwhile, swapped his formal suits for beige chinos and a long-sleeve navy polo shirt for the school visit.
Meghan kept her face mask on as she read from her children’s story book The Bench at an outdoor reading event for the group of students.
The Bench, released on June 8, explores the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’.
Meghan has previously said the book was inspired by a poem she wrote for Harry on his first Father’s Day – one month after Archie was born.
Illustrations throughout are inspired by the Sussex family – including Lilibet Diana who was only born four days before its release and after illustrations were drawn.
Meghan kneels down to chat to a little girl on the playground of the school in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City Friday
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are seen leaving their luxury hotel in Manhattan with their beefed-up security Friday
Their fleet of gas-guzzling SUVs were spotted exiting the Carlyle Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side late Friday morning
The Sussexes are seen driving away from the lavish Manhattan hotel for day two of their three-day tour around New York City
The evening topped off a busy day for Meghan and Harry. Their first visit was to the the One World Trade Center observatory Thursday morning where they waved and smiled (above)
Harry was joined by two men and one woman for Thursday evening’s jaunt to the hotel bar, where he chatted over a glass of wine while a jazz pianist played in the background.
He had arrived for what appeared to be a business meeting just after 5.30pm, taking a table in a corner under close watch by his security detail, and leaving around 45 minutes later.
It is not clear who his companions were but they were all dressed in business attire and Harry was carrying an iPad and notebook.
The evening topped off a busy day for Meghan and Harry as they jetted around the Big Apple to a number of mystery meetings, which have been kept under wraps from the public and the press.
On Thursday morning, the Sussexes first visited the One World Trade Center observatory where they met with New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and de Blasio’s family.
They arrived around 8.15am heading straight up the tower and emerging around 30 minutes later to pose for photos with the officials.
Last night, Harry, 37, was then spotted in Bemelmans Bar in the Carlyle Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side chatting animatedly with the people at his table – with no sign of Meghan, 40, in sight (above)
He was joined by two men and one woman for Thursday evening’s jaunt to the hotel bar, where he chatted over a glass of wine while a jazz pianist played in the background
There they met with NY Governor Kathy Hochul (furthest left) and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (next to Harry) as well as De Blasio’s wife Chirlane McCray, and the couple’s son Dante (furthest right)
While atop the One World Trade Center, Meghan said ‘it’s wonderful to be back’ in New York – following her last visit in September 2019 when she cheered on close friend and tennis star Serena Williams at the US Open.
The couple then parted ways with the officials and took a tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, joined by National September 11 Memorial & Museum President Alice Greenwald and Patricia Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropy.
The Sussexes visited both pools on the sites where the North Tower and South Tower once stood, reading the names of the victims inscribed on the memorials and taking a moment of silence by a wreath.
They spent around 30 minutes inside the museum before being whisked back to their hotel for a quick pit stop and outfit change.
Around midday, they traveled to 50 UN Plaza for a meeting with US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on COVID-19, racial justice and mental health.
Meghan and Harry at the South Tower memorial pool at the with 9/11 Memorial and Museum with National September 11 Memorial and Museum President Alice Greenwald (in blue) and Patricia Harris, CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropy (in green)
The Sussexes visited both pools at the memorial and took a moment of silence by a wreath to pay their respects
They then traveled to 50 UN Plaza for a meeting with US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on COVID-19, racial justice and mental health (above)
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield tweeted photos from their ‘wonderful’ visit Thursday afternoon, revealing they discussed COVID-19, racial justice and mental health
The Sussexes – who dramatically quit their roles as working royals last year – were spotted leaving 50 UN Plaza in Manhattan around 2pm Thursday afternoon
They then paid a visit to the World Health Organization headquarters at 885 Second Avenue, where they emerged carrying both WHO documents and documents featuring their Archewell Foundation branding
The ambassador described the meeting as ‘wonderful’ as she shared snaps of the trio chatting on sofas in a lounge area and then posing in front of UN branding.
‘Wonderful meeting with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,’ she tweeted, with photos from their meeting.
‘Important discussion of COVID, racial justice, and raising mental health awareness,’ she wrote on social media.
Meghan and Harry then paid a visit to the World Health Organization headquarters at 885 Second Avenue, where they emerged carrying both WHO documents and documents featuring their Archewell Foundation branding.
Much of the details of the Sussexes’ trip to the Big Apple – including the purpose of the meetings with various officials – remain under wraps.
They are scheduled to appear at Saturday’s Global Citizen concert in Central Park which focuses on vaccine equity.