One of Prince Harry’s deepest interests came through in a single gala moment. The Duke of Sussex was attending the event with his wife, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. The royals have passions of their own, and Harry’s reaction alone revealed one close to his heart.
Meghan Markle reveals one of Prince Harry’s biggest interests during interaction with musicians at gala
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry turned up for a glamorous charity gala for the David Foster Foundation over the weekend. There, a special performance by bagpipers caught their attention.
The Sussexes were in Victoria, Canada, on Friday, August 7, to show support for their friend David Foster at a gala marking 40 years of fundraising for the David Foster Foundation. For the event, the As Ever founder honored the late Princess Diana by wearing her diamond-and-sapphire earrings. She styled them with a gown by Canadian designer Greta Constantine. Harry, meanwhile, looked sharp in a classic black tuxedo with a matching bow tie, PEOPLE reported.
But the real highlight for the King’s younger son happened off-stage. Markle posted a clip of Harry and her walking past a hallway full of kilted musicians with bagpipes and drums. “My husband loves bagpipes!” the 45-year-old said with a smile, drawing laughter from the crowd. The Duke nodded along and jokingly asked the musicians, “Where are mine?” “Pipes and drums, to be clear,” he stressed. “Pipes and drums.”
For the unversed, bagpipes have long held special significance for the British royal family. Queen Victoria became so captivated by them during a trip to Scotland in 1843 that she established the position of Piper to the Sovereign.
Each morning, the Piper plays for 15 minutes under the monarch’s balcony. Queen Elizabeth was said to affectionately call them “Pipes.” After the performance, they switch uniforms and guide guests, VIPs, and world leaders through royal protocol.
After Queen Elizabeth passed away in September 2022, her final Piper to the Sovereign, Pipe Major Paul Burns, closed her committal ceremony with a moving rendition of “Sleep, Dearie, Sleep.”
