It’s no surprise that royal engagements are planned with military precision. Every official greeted and each posy of flowers presented is meticulously scheduled in advance, carefully typed into detailed operational notes carried by palace aides.
So when Duchess Meghan suddenly asked for a Sharpie during a February 1 visit to a charity supporting vulnerable sex workers, no one in the room knew what would happen next.
“I have an idea,” she said, standing in the kitchen of Bristol’s One25 charity, an organization that helps vulnerable women break free from street sex work, addiction, poverty, and violence. The duchess had just watched a volunteer prepare food parcels to be handed out the same day to vulnerable women working on the streets.
Pen in hand, Meghan picked up a banana from each meal bag and started carefully writing messages of support: “You are strong.” “You are amazing.” “You are loved,” She signed each with a small heart.
It was an unexpected move that touched the hearts of staff at the non-profit charity. One25’s mobile outreach van provides support to around 240 local sex workers each year, visiting the city’s red light district five nights a week. The service runs from a fully-equipped truck, offering food, condoms, blankets, safety alarms, and a safe place to talk.
“I saw this project this woman had started somewhere in the States on a school lunch program,” Meghan said, recalling the story of a canteen manager who worked at Kingston Elementary School in Virginia. “On each of the bananas she wrote an affirmation, to make the kids feel really empowered. It was the most incredible idea—this small gesture.”
One25 CEO Anna Smith tells BAZAAR.com it was a moment she will never forget. “That really touched me—and I’m not even a royalist,” Smith says. “She was just watching the food being packed up and suddenly decided she wanted to write these beautiful messages on every banana they had there. She had clearly listened and heard what we are all about—that we don’t judge, we simply offer the service and unconditional love. She totally got it.”
A volunteer and former sex worker at the organization who asked to remain anonymous told reporters of the gesture, “It sounds really cheesy, but little things like that when you are out—especially tonight, we can see the cold weather—just to get that little thing … Meghan took her time out to write that one. It’s lush.”
“Meghan really understood that the women we work with just need love and support to help them move on with their lives.” —One25 CEO Anna Smith
The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry secretly visited the charity during an extremely snowy day of engagements in Bristol on Friday, requesting that Kensington Palace keep details of the visit embargoed until long after they left due to the sensitivity surrounding the issues addressed at One25.
The couple met volunteers, service users, donors, and executives during their tour of the facilities. Prince Harry was visibly moved as he learned that 99 percent of women in street sex work are addicted to drugs or alcohol, 80 percent are homeless, and almost all have experienced childhood abuse.
“When you were being groomed at such a young age, and this is the only thing you know, you completely lose faith in society,” he said while talking to a now-clean 43-year-old who was groomed into prostitution and drug addiction at the age of 14. “You lose trust in every man, and probably everyone else around you. From a mental health perspective you are broken.”
As well as their mobile outreach service, One25 provides support via their drop-in center, which aims to help those over 18 years old who are either trying to get out of sex work or attempting to rebuild their lives after leaving. “It’s just so fantastic what you’re doing,” Meghan said during the visit.
Before leaving, the couple shared their hope that One25’s services would one day be modeled across the U.K. “Meghan really understood that the women we work with just need love and support to help them move on with their lives,” Smith says.
The Sussexes personally chose One25 from a list of many charities ahead of their visit to Bristol, a source tells BAZAAR. “Both were very keen to shine a light on something that not everyone is willing to talk about openly,” says a source close to the couple. “They wanted their visit to help remove the stigma.”
“We are not a glamorous charity and it’s not an easy subject for people to get their head around,” says Smith. “The duke and duchess’ support and time meant everything. They would have happily stayed longer if they could—they ran over time and talked to everyone. They understood that these engagement days need to be worth it for the organization as well as them. They both said they want the impact [of their visit] to be felt by charity.”
The impact began the moment news of their visit was announced, with phone lines ringing off the hook and donations already coming in via One25’s website.
“Our van currently doesn’t go out on Saturday nights and the drop-ins can get very busy,” Smith says of the difficulties One25 faces. “And while we see many women never return to the streets, we’ve unfortunately seen a lot coming back due to [U.K.-wide benefits] cuts,” Smith said.
“Their visit today will make a huge difference to our future, in terms of funding and reaching more women. They really are an incredible pair.”
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