Harry and Meghan have made it clear they will keep Diana’s Aids legacy alive – and I, for one, am mightily impressed
SO they have started as they mean to continue – and I, for one, am mightily impressed.
Harry has made HIV awareness a big part of his charity work and last year had an Aids test live on Facebook in an attempt to get rid of the stigma that still exists.
The couple also love Africa, where the virus is still rampant — and desperately needs to be battled in the way that only these new lovebirds can ensure.
Harry is determined to honour his mum’s memory and it’s no coincidence that Princess Diana was one of the most famous people to try to break down the barriers and diffuse the misinformed hysteria surrounding HIV/Aids when she shook hands with a patient back in 1987.
I know it seems unbelievable now, but back then people thought you could catch Aids just by touching someone who had the disease.
Sufferers were stigmatised — there was even talk of quarantining them.
So it took a lot of courage for Diana to stand up to the “grey men” who surrounded the Royal Family and call the shots.
It is to her eternal credit that she carried out that important gesture of compassion and solidarity.
People also forget that while Diana gained enormous admiration because of that one handshake, she also received a great deal of criticism. Thankfully, times have changed. Aids is no longer a death sentence in the Western world, but we still have a long way to go in terms of education and treatment.
In Africa, sufferers are too poor to afford life-saving drugs and this is where Harry and Meghan could make a massive impact.
Harry has made HIV awareness a big part of his charity work and last year had an Aids test live on Facebook in an attempt to get rid of the stigma that still exists
Not only did they raise the profile of the splendid Terrence Higgins Trust yesterday, their endorsement will have a knock-on effect to hopefully encourage big hitters to examine their consciences and write some fat cheques.
Harry has the same admirable desire to do good as his mum, and Meghan already has a track record of highlighting important issues long before she met her prince.
I think they both have a very clear agenda of the kind of royal “power couple” they want to be — with humanitarian causes, children’s charities, women’s rights, helping Armed Forces veterans and protecting wildlife at the top of the list.
Harry has launched the Invictus Games for wounded members of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and chose that event held in the summer to be “officially” photographed with Meghan for the first time in public.
Both are savvy enough to realise they will generate headlines whenever Megan appears in a new outfit or with a different hairstyle, but that enables them to use their global renown to help causes that will benefit from their star power.
What a stark difference to William and Kate, who are perfectly happy in their slightly dull but very comfortable lives.
Kate knows she will now no longer be the focus of attention, and can quietly remain in the background, keeping her head down and adding to her family.
Harry and Meghan will be getting all the attention that Kate is very happy to do without, but they will use it to their advantage — and to help others.
They have a golden opportunity to really make a difference.
Seeing how utterly spellbound Harry is by his bride-to-be, I reckon she will be a real driving force for them to become a couple of genuine substance.
He is grown-up enough to fall properly in love with an intelligent, independent woman who is successful in her own right, has her own opinions and is not afraid to air and share them.
She’s light years away from the traditional aristocratic shy teenage virgin doomed to be a brood mare and spend boring weekends in drafty country houses interspersed with watching chinless wonders shooting fluffy animals.
Megan is a Hollywood actress and very comfortable in front of the camera.
She wowed the crowds yesterday and showed in that impressive engagement interview that she is utterly charming, and she will have politicians and bigwigs eating out of the palm of her hand.
I think she is more like the late Princess Diana than any other woman in the Royal Family, and that could well have been part of her charm for Harry.
She’s also the same age as Diana was when she was tragically killed in that senseless car crash.
It’s a great shame the two of them were fated never to meet.
Like Harry, I believe they would have got on like a house on fire, and it’s clear that Harry and Meghan will be continuing Diana’s legacy, and they have already begun to do just that.
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Jay-Z excuses
Instead of a sincere apology, we simply got a lot of psychobabble.
The couple, pictured, famously chose to set their marital problems to music, with both of them using their respective albums as a kind of visit to a marriage guidance counsellor – but where they reaped a fortune.
They have since managed to overcome their problems and she must have forgiven him, but if a man can’t even stay faithful to an intelligent, successful, gorgeous woman like Beyonce, then there really is no hope.
Time to honour a legend
THERE are not many things that would make me man the barricades, but if Corrie ever shows even the smallest hint of axing Rita I would be the first viewer waving a banner and shouting passionate slogans.
After making her debut in 1964, she’s the beating heart of the Street and an absolute legend.
I was lucky enough to have an audience with Her Majesty Barbara Knox this week and it was a real delight to talk about one of my favourite shows with a woman who knows the history of every single Corrie cobble.
She’s also remarkably modest, genuinely has no idea how good she is, and was truly shocked by her nomination for best dramatic performance in a serial drama in the upcoming National TV Awards.
At 84 she is at the peak of her powers and can convey more emotion with one tilt of her head than most actors achieve in their entire careers.
As far as I’m concerned Corrie can have hostages in cellars, murders, stabbings, drug deals and all sorts of big stunts, but for me a scene in the Kabin between Rita and Norris is what Coronation Street is all about.
Her scenes are always beautifully acted, well written and utterly authentic.
Thankfully Barbara told me she has no plans to retire while she still loves the job.
Surely it can only be a matter of time before she is made a dame.
WHAT A BLOODY DISGRACE
I AM absolutely furious at the news three brave Army veteran dogs – Kevin, right, Dazz and Driver – are to be killed next week.
What a bloody disgrace.
If you agree and want them to be saved, re-homed and allowed to live the rest of their lives in comfort and with dignity then add your support at .
IF you are doing a bit of Christmas shopping this weekend why not buy an extra prezzie and drop it off at one of the Mission Christmas collection points?
That gift will go to a child living in poverty.
The appeal works with social workers, headteachers and the emergency services who nominate families in crisis, so you know your parcel will go to a good home.
It’s backed by pop star Ronan Keating, and Strictly’s Aston Merrygold is patron for the second year running.
They just want every household to have a good Christmas.
You can find all the details at .