Prince Harry’s sweet gesture to elderly Los Angeles fires victim while staying anonymous revealed
Prince Harry made a very sweet gesture to an elderly victim of the Los Angeles wildfires during a visit with his wife Meghan Markle this weekend.
The royal couple, who live in Montecito near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles away from LA, were seen comforting victims as they handed out food parcels with Jennifer Newsom at the Pasadena Convention Centre, which is being used as an evacuation centre, on Friday.
Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, have rallied around victims by making donations to relief efforts through their Archewell Foundation and have opened their $29million Montecito mansion to loved ones who were forced to evacuate.
They were joined by Mayor Victor Gordo to visit the victims and see the destruction of the fire first-hand.
At one point, Gordo said he lost track of the Duke of Sussex – before witnessing a very special act of kindness from the royal.
According to local paper the Pasadena Star News, Harry offered an elderly man if he wanted something to eat – a sandwich, piece of fruit or some water.
When the man, who wasn’t aware of who he was speaking to, said what he really wanted was a donut, Harry personally went out to fetch him one, and returned ten minutes later.
“The gentleman said, ‘what I’d really like is a donut,’” Gordo recalled, per the Pasadena Star.
Prince Harry made a very sweet gesture to an elderly victim of the Los Angeles wildfires during a visit with his wife Meghan Markle this weekend
Meghan and Harry are pictured with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo (right) during their visit on Friday
He continued: ‘(Prince Harry) says, “There’s no donut here, but I will find one.’ He takes off, and 10 minutes later, he returns with a donut. The gentleman looks up and says, “I guess I need my carbs and my sugar”.
Gordo pointed out that Harry had managed to stay anonymous for the entirety of the exchange but the gentleman said: ‘If you ever run for anything, I’ll vote for you!’
During their visit, Meghan and Harry stood alongside the embattled California governor’s wife as they served meals to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood next to the wife of the Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom who has come under increasing pressure from the likes of President-elect Donald Trump for his response to the raging wildfires.
The fires that have ravaged the city have killed 16 people and burned through almost 14,000 acres. Around 4,000 to 5,000 structures have also been damaged or destroyed including the homes of Hollywood A-listers.
US President Joe Biden has chillingly predicting the death toll is likely to rise after he described the terrifying situation as ‘like a war scene’.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone has warned high winds and low humidity means the fire threat will remain high until Wednesday.
Meghan and Harry were spotted hugging their ‘favourite’ celebrity chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, who has teamed up with the couple through their Archewell Foundation since 2020, which is distributing free hot meals to the public and emergency crews in the wake of the wildfires.
The Duchess shared a lemon olive oil cake recipe to Andrés’ The World Central Kitchen: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope in 2023.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stood alongside the embattled California governor’s wife as they served meals to the survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires
The royal couple, who live near Santa Barbara, around 90 miles away from LA, were seen comforting victims as they handed out food parcels with Jennifer Newsom (pictured centre)
Meghan, who was dressed in a light blue shirt and blue LA baseball cap, and Harry, who donned a black baseball cap and black polo shirt, also took time to speak with the Mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo.
The couple were keen to provide any support they could, according to the Mayor, saying they were ‘great people’ with ‘great personalities’.
‘They really buoyed the spirits of the first responders. We visited the command post at the Rose Bowl and people were very happy to see them,’ the Mayor added.
It comes ahead of the premiere on Wednesday, January 15, of the Duchess’s new Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan.
The interaction was broadcast live on Fox News, with news anchor Susan Hirasuna later being slammed online for describing Meghan as ‘Princess Markle’. She also received criticism for saying Meghan was ‘hanging out with the commoners’.
Speaking to Fox News, Mayor Gordo said: ‘They (Harry and Meghan) want to be as helpful as they can be and really they just want to be supportive.’
He added that the couple visited some of the burnt out houses in Pasadena and Altadena and spoke to those who had lost their homes.
‘They took the time to meet the people who were affected and spend time. They are just very caring people who are very concerned for their friends and neighbours,’ the Mayor said.
Ms Hirasuna then asked: ‘I saw Meghan Markle stoop down and take the lid off of a plastic bin. Do they want to really get down and dirty?’
Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom has come under increasing pressure from the likes of President-elect Donald Trump for his response to the raging wildfires
US President Joe Biden has chillingly predicting the death toll is likely to rise after he described the terrifying situation as ‘like a war scene’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen leaving hand-in-hand after handed out meals to survivors
A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Los Angeles
Meghan Markle was spotted comforting victims and first responders at an evacuation centre, on Friday amid the ongoing fires in LA
José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, which is distributing meals to victims of the LA fires, was also seen meeting Meghan and Harry
A plane drops Phos-Chek flame retardant in Mandeville Canyon during the Palisades Fire, LA – January 11, 2025
Meghan Markle speaks with Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, center, and Doug Goodwin, who’s home was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena
Mayor Gordo replied saying the couple ‘were not here for publicity, they came out here to work’.
He said Harry and Meghan made an earlier appearance at the centre on the same day, during which they were ‘anonymously’ serving food to victims who were unable to recognise the pair with their masks on.
‘We went to visit some of the families in the impacted area and view firsthand some of the impacted area and then they wanted to go visit the first responders and personally thank them for their efforts to help our families and their neighbors,’ the Mayor added.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, was also pictured speaking to the couple along with Chef Andrés.
Earlier in the broadcast, Ms Hirasuna described Meghan as ‘Princess Meghan’, which led to some disgruntled viewers to criticise her reporting.
Many took to social media to point out her mistake, clarifying that Meghan is the Duchess of Sussex, rather than a Princess.
Meghan Markle, who was described as Princess Markle by a Fox News anchor, was seen consoling victims of the wildfires at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday
Meghan is seen consolling José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, as they made an appearance at the Pasadena Convention Centre on Friday
Prince Harry was also spotted speaking to the Mayor of Pasadena Victor Gordo, who described the couple as ‘great people’ with ‘great personalities’
Fox News anchor Susan Hirasuna (pictured) was slammed online for describing Meghan as ‘Princess Markle’
Earlier in the broadcast, Ms Hirasuna described Meghan as ‘Princess Meghan’, which led to some disgruntled viewers to criticise her reporting.
Many took to social media to point out her mistake, clarifying that Meghan is the Duchess of Sussex, rather than a Princess.
One person YouTube saying: ‘Dear Ma’am, Markel is not a princess. She is a duchess and not allowed to use the title. Just FYI.’
Another commenter added: ‘AGAIN SHES NOT A PRINCESS!!!’, while a third wrote: ‘Stop calling her Princess, that’s not her title!’
Elsewhere on Instagram, users described the coverage as cringe, after Ms Hirasuna also said the couple was ‘hanging out with the commoners’.
One person wrote: ‘Absolute cringeworthy – the newscaster. Princess. Commoners. Geez.’
Another person added: ‘I imagine Harry & Meghan are very moved by the deviation (sic) so close to home. The commentators coverage of this is extremely cringe.’
A third person also criticised Ms Hirasuna for making the ‘rude remark’.
Prince Harry and Meghan live in this $29million mansion in Montecito, California (file photo)
Chef Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, visits a temporary shelter for the victims of the Southern California wildfires at the Pasadena Convention Center
Chef Andres, who was among those who spoke to Harry and Meghan, at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday
People affected by wildfires wait in line for food and aid at the Pasadena Convention Center
A Starbucks worker delivers coffee to a first responder outside a temporary shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center
Social Border Grill delivers fresh fruit as part of World Central Kitchen at a temporary shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center
Harry and Meghan have urged other Los Angeles residents to open up their homes for victims in a statement on their website, Sussex.com, as the wildfires continued to level celebrities’ homes, leaving nothing but ash and rubble.
‘And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.’
‘Please consider donating clothing, children’s toys and clothing, and other essentials,’ they said, noting the American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need.
Harry and Meghan have already done so, according to The Telegraph, and are working with their staff from the Archewell Foundation to identify the most effective ways to support the community.
Donations have also been made to relief efforts through their foundation, which is also looking for opportunities to volunteer.
Thousands of firefighters have been attempting to contain the wind-driven fires in California which have so far killed 11 people, ravaged communities, and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their properties.
Blustery winds continue to whip across Los Angeles and could still ignite new fires, though they appear to have mellowed somewhat from their highs on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Flames from the Eaton fire in Altadena engulf a home as the huge blaze moves through the area
Flames engulf a structure as the Eaton Fire burns in Pasadena on January 7
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a McDonald’s in Pasadena on January 7
The ruins of many homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire are seen on January 10
Since the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades, new fires have started further east in Altadena, which forced major evacuations in nearby Pasadena on Tuesday night.
More fires broke out in the Hollywood hills on Wednesday, threatening heavily populated parts of Hollywood.
Stars including Adam Brody and Leighton Meester whose home was destroyed, along with Anna Faris’ mansion.
John Goodman and Anthony Hopkins were left with nothing but rubble after their homes burned, and Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy also lost their houses.
Actor James Woods shared video of the approaching flames shortly before he evacuated ahead of the destruction of his house.
The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag saw their home destroyed in the wildfire, and Spencer was pictured looking somberly at the approaching flames before his family was forced to flee.
The Eaton Fire, which broke out just north of Pasedena, has been one of the most devastating, having claimed the lives of six people and burning more than 7,000 structures.
