Harry and Meghan embrace Uvalde school shooting families on surprise trip to ... trends now
Prince Harry and Meghan embraced the relatives of the Uvalde school shooting victims as they made a surprise trip to Texas on Saturday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended a local event for the families whose loved one were gunned down in the horror attack in May 2022.
The couple even sang Happy Birthday to the sister of heroic schoolteacher Irma Garcia who sacrificed her own life during the massacre at Texas' Robb Elementary School in a bid to allow her young students to get to safety.
Ms Garcia, who had worked as a teacher for 23 years, was one of 21 people - two teachers and 19 children - who were killed when 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos stormed the building. Her husband Joe tragically died from a heart attack two days later.
Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, also surprised Ms Garcia's sister with a birthday cake as the Sussexes led the singing in a heartwarming video.
'Is everyone singing too?' the duchess joked as she tried to get others to join in. As the family laughed, Meghan called out 'my love' to Harry who nodded to confirm he would help her out.
Meghan had opened up about the online abuse she suffered while pregnant at South by Southwest Festival in Austin on Friday before she and Harry came to pay tribute to the families who are still grieving the loved ones they lost in the Uvalde shooting.
Harry and Meghan are seen with the mother of Layla Salazar who was tragically killed in the Uvalde shooting
The Sussexes were seen embracing families at the local event to support the families of the shooting victims
Prince Harry is pictured with Carlos Martinez - a relative of heroic schoolteacher Irma Garcia who sacrificed her own life during the massacre
The Sussexes were also seen supporting the family of Layla Salazar - an 11-year-old girl who loved running and dancing to TikTok videos. Her family shared a photo of Layla's mother smiling with Harry and Meghan at a local event.
Meghan had visited Uvalde days after the shooting where she laid flowers at a makeshift memorial.
'She took this trip in a personal capacity as a mother, to offer her condolences and support in person to a community experiencing unimaginable grief,' a spokesperson for Meghan told CNN at the time.
Ms Garcia's family described the Sussexes as 'compassionate, very down to earth, humble people'.
The schoolgirl's mother told CNN: 'It was kind of by surprise, she [Meghan] had called my mom one random day and dropped the news on us not too long ago that she was coming to visit the kids and of course we got so excited.'
Mrs Garcia's nephew, 22-year-old John Martinez, shared a video of Harry and Meghan singing Happy Birthday to his mother and said she 'died a hero' and 'will be truly missed'.
Mr Martinez and his family fathered around Meghan who lit candled and started singing while encouraging others to join in, as Harry stood behind her.
Mr Martinez said: 'The cake was a surprise for my mum. Meghan and Harry are so so thoughtful and sweet for doing that... I love you Sussex squad.'
Footage shows Meghan calling Prince Harry 'my love' before singing Happy Birthday
Prince Harry and Meghan timed their visit to coincide with John's mother's birthday, with the couple even bringing them a birthday cake
Harry and Meghan made a surprise trip to Uvalde, Texas to visit the family of Irma Garcia, a teacher who was killed in the May 2022 shooting at the Robb Elementary School. They are pictured with her 22-year-old nephew, John
Speaking to Hello! magazine, he said the royal couple's visit brought 'lots of tears of joy and heartfelt moments'.
The event was planned by KABOOM! - an organisation which made a commitment to the community following the 2022 shooting.
The Sussexes' visit came two days after an independent investigator who was probing the local police response to the shooting presented his findings at a city council meeting. The report cleared all local officers of any wrongdoing, sparking fury among the victims' families who have called for accountability.
Investigator Jesse Prado said officers had acted in good faith despite local authorities
