Touching photos show ‘true humanitarian’ Meghan Markle hugging and playing with Rwandan children during charity trip

The actress has been described as "warm, good-humoured" and a natural with children.
Chloe Chaplain29 November 2017

Touching scenes showing Meghan Markle playing affectionately with Rwandan schoolchildren have emerged as she was hailed for being a “true humanitarian”.

In images that emulate the warmth shown by Harry's late mother Princess Diana, the bride-to-be is seen smiling as she dances and hugs the delighted young children.

They were taken when Ms Markle, who was an ambassador for charity World Vision, visited a clean drinking water project in the East African country.

Footage of Ms Markle shows her talking to the children about what having clean water would mean to them and is seen helping to turn a manual drill to make one of the wells.

Charity work: The former actress is pictured hugging the children during her charity trip
World Vision/PA

During the 2016 trip, she visited a school who had been built a pipeline by the charity which provided them with clean water.

The keen philanthropist taught the children to paint with watercolours using water from the pipeline.

Meghan Markle visit to Rwanda for World Vision - In pictures

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For one image, she posed with a group of them to take a selfie – with the kids laughing and waving into the camera.

And in others the former actress appears to dance with a little boy who had taken a shine to her.

Rwanda: She visited the country during a Global Vision trip
World Vision/PA

The photos have been shared by the charity as it thanked Ms Markle for her work over the past two years and praised her for being a "true humanitarian" who will bring "vast energy" to her royal work.

The former Suits star is giving up her current charitable commitments with the organisation to focus on her new life as a member of the royal family with a "clean slate".

Likeness: The images emulated the warmth seen in Princess Diana's charity work
AFP/Getty Images

World Vision's Lara Dewar, who travelled to India with Ms Markle earlier this year, praised the actress’ passion for improving children's lives and campaigning for girls' rights.

"Meghan is a true humanitarian," the chief marketing and development officer said.

Meghan: She has been described as being a natural with children
World Vision/PA

"We're deeply grateful for her contribution as a global ambassador for World Vision over the past two years and for helping to raise awareness for the world's most vulnerable children.

"I personally witnessed Meghan's passion to improve the lives of children, and know her heart to advocate for the rights of girls - to hear and amplify their important voices.

Selfie: Ms Markle met with schoolchildren on the trip
World Vision/PA

"She will undoubtedly bring vast energy to her charity work as a member of the royal family.

"We can't wait to see what the future holds for her and Prince Harry - a couple who clearly have a heart for social justice."

Ms Markle will become a full time royal after marrying Prince Harry in May at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

World Vision/PA

She will join the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry as its fourth patron.

Kensington Palace said on Tuesday that the American star would become a British citizen, and also would be focusing on her new life, rather than past charities.

Harry's communications secretary Jason Knauf said: "She has made the decision that she wants to start with a clean slate and focus on the UK, and getting to know this country, and travelling around the Commonwealth."

It could be that Ms Markle decides to become royal patron of World Vision at a later date, but nothing has yet been confirmed.

Behind the scenes, the actress has been described as "warm and good-humoured" and, like Harry, a natural with children.

"She really, really gets on with children and is connected to the children. She has a brightness and a warmth," one source said.

"The charity work really struck a chord with her."

In January this year, she travelled to Delhi and Mumbai with World Vision, which is a global relief, development and advocacy charity, and afterwards wrote an article highlighting the plight of girls in India who are stigmatised when they are menstruating.

Couple: The pair announced their engagement on Monday

She wrote at length for Time magazine's website about how the schooling of young women in the Commonwealth country is disrupted when they have their period.

"During my time in the field, many girls shared that they feel embarrassed to go to school during their periods. Ill-equipped with rags instead of pads, unable to participate in sports and without bathrooms available to care for themselves, they often opt to drop out of school entirely," she said.

She went on to say: "When a girl misses school because of her period, cumulatively that puts her behind her male classmates by 145 days."

Meghan: The bride-to-be is a keen charity worker
Getty Images

Ms Markle wrote about the issue of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), adding: "To remedy this problem, young girls need MHM, access to toilets and, at a most basic level, sanitary pads.

"Twenty-three percent of girls in India drop out of school because these factors are not at play."

The engagement of Harry and Ms Markle, who met on a blind date, was announced on Monday - 16 months after they began their whirlwind romance.

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