Harry & Meghan: An African Journey

Harry & Meghan: An African Journey is an impressive and deeply personal documentary that was aired by ABC in the year 2019. As its title suggests, the TV special takes viewers along on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s enthralling 10-day tour of Africa, which happened in the fall of 2019, offering unique insights into the royals’ life, their charitable endeavors, and their experience of parenthood.

Anchored by esteemed journalist and ITV news anchor, Tom Bradby, this emotional 60-minute television event offers an honest reflection of the experience that the couple, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, had while visiting the African continent. The royal couple’s itinerary included visits to Angola, Malawi, Botswana, and South Africa, each with its own tale to tell.

The documentary does a deft job of shedding light on the royal couple's passion for philanthropy, which is seen through visits to local communities, conversing with leaders, and their engagements with charities. Viewers are given a ringside seat to the couple’s behind-the-scenes engagements and are privy to the depth and severity of the issues the communities are experiencing. These interactions shed light on the couple’s desire to leverage their platforms to emphasize the stories of the people they meet and the causes they're passionate about.

Simultaneously, the documentary allows viewers to grasp the couple's struggle with media scrutiny and its impact on their personal lives, offering an intimate portrayal of their experiences as members of the royal family living in an intensely public spotlight. The humanity and vulnerability of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are palpable. Their candid sharing of their emotional challenges and stressful experiences brings to fore a rarely seen side to the royal existence.

Prince Harry shares his commitment to continue his mother's work, with his visit to Angola to highlight the ongoing problems caused by landmine contamination. This is exceptionally poignant as it reflects the late Princess Diana's own tour of the region, which had been infested with landmines two decades ago. His dedication to his mother's legacy illustrates how profoundly her influence continues to inspire and steer his philanthropic pursuits.

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, also uses this journey to address the causes closest to her heart, including education and women empowerment. She resonates with the local women, amplifies their stories, and empathetically approaches her advocacy work, which adds a compelling dimension to her role.

An African Journey also allows a glimpse of a small yet endearing part of the couple's life - their firstborn son, Archie. The audience is presented with snippets of their venture into parenity, radiating an aura of earnestness, love, and unexpected normality in the royal toddler's upbringing.

While avid royal enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate the behind-the-scenes access to the couple, even viewers who are not inherently interested in the British monarchy will find value in the documentary. The film’s exploration of a variety of social, economic, and environmental issues, as well as its emphasis on humanity, makes it appealing to a wide array of audiences.

This TV special is raw, emotional, and thought-provoking; far removed from the royal stiff upper lip stereotype one might expect. Instead, it professes authenticity, encourages empathy, and ignites a desire to inspire change. Seen through the lens of two of the most famous people on the planet, it is a documentary about love, resilience, duty, and the relentless pursuit of harmony and humanitarianism in the face of relentless public scrutiny and personal upheavals.

Harry & Meghan: An African Journey might initially come across as an ordinary study of the couple in an official capacity – a simple window into their royal duties and commitments, but by subtly peeling back the layers, it provides an intimate portrait of their personal lives, their struggles with mental health, and their dedication to public service. The documentary is a commendable blend of royal duty meets personal reality. It is a timely and essential viewing for understanding the world of this royal couple, shining a light on their commitment to social betterment, and the toll their roles as public figures take on their personal lives.