Prince Harry and Meghan now based in California: report
March 27, 2020, 10:04 am

Prince Harry and Meghan now based in California: report

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan rocked the royal family with their January announcement that they will no longer represent the monarchy as they pursue a financially independent life File photo AFP

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have permanently relocated to California amid the coronavirus pandemic, media reports said Friday.

The royal couple flew by private jet from Canada to Los Angeles last week before the border between the two countries closed because of the deadly virus outbreak, The Sun reported. Prince Harry and Meghan

"Harry and Meghan have left Canada now for good," a "royal insider," told the tabloid.

"The borders were closing and flights were stopping. They had to get out."

The border between the US and Canada -- the longest in the world -- closed last week in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as both countries see escalating numbers of cases.

Harry and Meghan rocked the royal family with their January announcement that they will no longer represent the monarchy as they pursue a new, financially independent life.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will formally step back from royal duties on March 31.

It had been thought they would base themselves in Canada, where they have spent time in recent months.

But The Sun said the move to California "had been planned for some time" and that the couple had "realized Canada would not work out for various reasons".

"They want to be based in the Los Angeles area," the source told the tabloid.

Meghan grew up in the Californian city and her mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there.

The one-time actress also has a network of friends and work contacts in Los Angeles, where she could now restart her career.

Disney announced on Thursday that she will narrate a new film about a family of African elephants, set for release next Friday.

Kensington Palace, the couple's official residence, did not respond to a request for comment about the reported US move.

In Britain, the royal family has been showing solidarity with frontline health staff in the fight against the new coronavirus.

Prince Charles, who has tested positive for the virus but is so far showing only mild symptoms, appeared for the first time since the Wednesday announcement of his diagnosis.

The heir to Queen Elizabeth II joined Britons across the country showing their appreciation for state-run National Health Service (NHS) workers by publicly clapping simultaneously at 8 pm (2000 GMT) on Thursday. Prince Harry and Meghan

Clarence House posted a video on Instagram showing the queen's eldest son applauding from the family's Balmoral estate in Scotland, where he is self-isolating.

The children of his eldest son Prince William and wife Kate were also filmed clapping for Britain's army of health staff in another video posted to Instagram.

source: AFP levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”