{"id":18004,"date":"2025-01-11T17:42:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-11T17:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18004"},"modified":"2025-01-11T17:42:29","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T17:42:29","slug":"prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-visit-la-fire-victims-and-first-responders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=18004","title":{"rendered":"Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit LA fire victims and first responders"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have met with victims of\u00a0the LA fires<\/a>\u00a0along with first responders who have been on the frontlines as blazes tore through Southern California this week.<\/p>\n

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday, which has become an evacuation site for victims of the Eaton fire in nearby Altadena.<\/p>\n

The Post understands it was not a planned press visit but rather an effort to make a meaningful difference in their community while trying to avoid causing disruption.<\/p>\n

Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, wore baseball hats as they tried to maintain a low profile, with Markle opting for a blue LA Dodgers cap (the former \u201cSuits\u201d star grew up in the Los Feliz neighborhood of LA) and Harry choosing a black \u201cCali\u201d hat from Los Angeles-based brand James Perse.<\/p>\n

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited victims of the Eaton Fire on Friday.FOX 11 Los Angeles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also met with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo (L).FOX 11 Los Angeles
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FOX 11 Los Angeles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sources told The Post that the Duke and Duchess were focused on supporting and helping both physically and emotionally without causing chaos.<\/p>\n

The couple heard harrowing stories but also witnessed strong community spirit, insiders revealed.<\/p>\n

Having previously made monetary donations to the relief efforts via their Archewell Foundation, Meghan and Harry donated clothing, children\u2019s items, and other essential supplies to the main donation center on Friday.<\/p>\n

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak with first responders of the Eaton Fire on Jan. 10, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pair began their visit by serving meals alongside volunteers from chef Jose Andr\u00e9s\u2019 World Central Kitchen (WCK) outside the Convention Center, accompanied by the First Partner of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom.<\/p>\n

Inside the center, the pair took time to connect with elderly individuals and families affected by the crisis.<\/p>\n

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Prince Harry chatted with people displaced from their homes by the LA fires.FOX 11 Los Angeles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meghan and Harry later returned to the Pasadena Convention Center to meet with Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, whose World Central Kitchen has been providing food to fire victims and first responders at pop-up food stations around LA County.<\/p>\n

The royals expressed their appreciation to all of the teams working tirelessly to support the community.<\/p>\n

Sources also told The Post that the Duke and Duchess are committed to further supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts, and have already planned additional visits to the community.<\/p>\n

Mayor Gordo\u00a0spoke with Fox 11<\/a>\u00a0about the couple\u2019s visit shortly after they departed.<\/p>\n

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Outside the Pasadena Convention Center, Prince Harry shook hands with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo.FOX 11 Los Angeles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mayor Gordo spoke with local reporters after his visit with Meghan and Harry.FOX 11 Los Angeles<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t come out here for publicity; they came out here to work,\u201d Gordo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went to visit some of the families in the impacted area and view first hand some of the impacted area,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd then they wanted to go visit the first responders and personally thank them for their efforts to help our families and our neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really buoyed the spirits of the first responders.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple recently opened their sprawling $29.5 million Montecito mansion\u00a0to friends of theirs who have fled the fires.<\/a><\/p>\n

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In a message shared\u00a0on their website<\/a>\u00a0Thursday, Meghan and Harry suggested how members of the public who \u201cfeel compelled to help\u201d\u00a0can contribute to relief efforts.<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition to listing a range of charitable organizations that are assisting with the crisis and are in need of donations, the Duke and Duchess urged those who are able to \u201copen your home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a friend, loved one, or pet has to evacuate and you are able to offer them a safe haven in your home, please do,\u201d the pair said in their statement. \u201cAnd be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thus far, over 5,000 structures have been destroyed, and more than\u00a0200,000 Angelenos have been evacuated as the Palisades, Eaton and Kenneth fires<\/a>\u00a0(among others) remain burning. With 35,000 acres burned, local authorities have said that\u00a0at least 11 people are dead<\/a>\u00a0as a result of the wildfires.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have met with victims of\u00a0the LA fires\u00a0along with first responders who have been on the frontlines as blazes tore through Southern California this … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18004"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18006,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18004\/revisions\/18006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}