While participating in events in New York City alongside her husband, Prince Harry, in honor of World Mental Health Day, Meghan Markle displayed her affectionate side. Carson Daly, the Today co-host who facilitated a discussion with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their Archewell Foundation summit, focused on addressing mental health challenges online. On Tuesday, Meghan, aged 42, expressed a preference for warm embraces over formal protocol.
Daly shared, “One of the main events was a special conversation that I shared with the Duke and Duchess, Harry and Meghan, about how to build a safer space online for our kids and teenagers,” during a recap of the previous day’s events with Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Craig Melvin on Wednesday morning. He also described their friendly demeanor, recounting how Meghan welcomed hugs with a “Bring it in” gesture, prompting Guthrie to remark, “That’s really cool.”
On the preceding day, Daly engaged in an emotional conversation about parenting in the digital age with the royals and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Meghan and Harry, both aged 39, emphasized their roles as parents to their children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2.
Carson Daly Discusses Mental Health with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Credits: Getty Images)
During the summit, Harry spoke about being a father and the need to provide support and solutions for families navigating the digital age. The panel concluded with Daly asking Meghan about the significance of this issue as a mother, to which she replied, “Being a mom is the most important thing in my entire life, outside, of course, being a wife to this one,” gesturing to Harry. She added, “But I will say I feel fortunate that our children are at an age, again quite young, so this isn’t in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened at how it’s continuing to change, and this will be in front of us.”
Following the panel discussion, Meghan and Harry received a standing ovation and shared warm embraces with Daly and Murthy as they exited the stage.
In addition to the summit, titled “The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit: Mental Wellness in a Digital Age,” Meghan and Harry made a surprise visit to The Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn. Meghan was photographed sharing hugs with students during their school tour and alumni roundtable. She also emphasized the importance of community support during their visit, stating, “It takes a village, and you’re raising an incredible village here.”
Reuben Ogbonna, a teacher at the school, praised the couple, saying, “They were so cool and down to earth,” and current student Ashley Tucker added, “Both Harry and Meghan came into our classroom and were really engaging with us and interested in what we had to say about the program.”
The Archewell Foundation, established by Prince Harry and Meghan in 2020, focuses on uplifting communities, building a better online world, and restoring trust in information. Their philanthropic work centers on the core belief that mental health and collective well-being are of utmost importance.
In addition to their recent summit in New York City, Harry and Meghan have actively supported World Mental Health Day in various ways in the past. In 2020, they joined the Teenager Therapy podcast, engaging in a discussion with senior students at a California high school about the importance of prioritizing mental health. This appearance followed their decision to step back from their royal duties in the U.K. and their move to Meghan’s home state.
