On their final day in Jordan, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development alongside a delegation from the World Health Organization. There, they were hosted by Princess Basma bint Talal, King Abdullah II’s paternal aunt.
World Health Organization
The Jordanian princess greets Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO.
Princess Basma, 74, is the daughter of King Talal and Queen Zein al-Sharaf, and is the chairperson of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD). The organization was established by her brother King Hussein bin Talal’s royal decree as the Queen Alia Fund for Social Welfare Fund (QAF) in 1977. “King Hussein entrusted leadership of QAF to his only sister, H.R.H, Princess Basma Bint Talal, who remains Chairperson to this day,” reads their history. In 1985, it became a nonprofit, legal entity, and in 2000, following King Hussein’s death, it was consolidated with other organizations, becoming the JOHUD.
Now, it is a “pioneer in sustainable human development at the national, regional and international levels.” As the WHO posted today, “From community work to youth engagement, the model shows how local solutions deliver real impact for those most in need.”
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Basma smiles as Prince Harry speaks.
Yesterday, Prince Harry shared a statement about joining the WHO in Jordan, calling it a “country that is leading by example in compassion, resilience and innovation.” He added, “Through our work with Archewell Philanthropies, my wife and I have seen first-hand the impact of WHO’s efforts to support mental health and deliver life-saving care in emergencies. We remain deeply committed to advancing awareness, reducing stigma and expanding access to mental health support for all those affected by conflict and crisis. Mental health is fundamental to recovery, dignity and long-term peace, and we are proud to stand with WHO and partners around the world to make it a global priority.”
Handout//Getty Images
The Sussexes in Amman, Jordan today.
Yesterday, Dr. Ghebreyesus met with King Abdullah without the Sussexes. “I wish to express my appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II for his commitment to advancing universal health coverage,” he said. “I also extend my thanks to His Majesty and the people of Jordan for their solidarity and generosity in providing health services to more than three million refugees, primarily from Gaza and Syria, who are living in the country.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.