News / Royal family
Harry and Meghan officially open Bristol Old Vic’s new foyer
Prince Harry thanked GWR for enabling Friday’s royal visit to go ahead, which has so far seen the Duke and Duchess of Sussex greet well wishers on King Street before having a tour of the Bristol Old Vic.
Soon after their cars pulled up, a member of the public in the crowd thanked Harry and Meghan for coming to Bristol.
In reply, the sixth in line to the throne said: “Thanks for coming out and saying hello. You know who you can thank. You can thank Great West Rail. They managed to get us here. We were almost guaranteed that it wasn’t going to work. It’s the only thing that works at the moment.”
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As snow continued to fall, crowds had arrived early to try to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.
They eventually arrived soon before midday and spent more than five minutes talking to people; Harry on the opposite side of the road to Meghan.
Close to the entrance to the theatre were some children from Abbeywood Tots, whose nursery is on the other side of King Street.
A selfie with the prince – photo by Jon Craig
Harry greeting the crowds on King Street – photo by Jon Craig
Meghan crouches down to talk to some of the children from Abbeywood Tots nursery – photo by Jon Craig
Once inside the theatre, Harry and Meghan were shown the new foyer before visiting an exhibition on the history of theatre sound design. Harry himself had a go on a wind machine and the couple spoke to year 5 pupils from St Werburgh’s Primary School.
The couple then went into the historic auditorium where they met actors from Future Quest, who had been taking part in a workshop and then performed a short extract from King Lear using 18th century sound effects.
The couple then unveiled a wooden plaque, “to stand for the next 250 years” according to Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris, before the Young Company performed a song from Hercules, a play that they had devised, in front of the theatre’s newly revealed, centuries-old wall.
After a bite to eat prepared by chefs from the in-house restaurant 1766, it was then time to head to their next engagement at One25 in St Paul’s followed by Empire Fighting Chance in Easton.
Bristol Old Vic artistic director Tom Morris introduces Harry and Meghan to some young actors – photo courtesy of Kensington Palace
Meghan and Harry unveil a plaque in the Bristol Old Vic’s new foyer – photo by Michael Lloyd
Meghan and Harry admire the Old Vic’s new foyer – photo by Jon Rowley
Three-year-old Ocean John, daughter of Bristol Old Vic executive director Sally Cordwell, shared her dreams of becoming a ballerina and had a special hello from Meghan and Harry
Follow our live blog of the royal visit here
Main photo by Jon Rowley
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