Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met survivors of the Bondi Beach terror attack and went for a walk on the sand after the couple arrived in Sydney on the last day of their Australia visit.
Harry and Meghan also met emergency workers who responded to last year’s terror attack against the Jewish community, as well as representatives of the Sydney Jewish Museum, which is opening an exhibition on the attacks.
After arriving at the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club on Friday morning, the couple spoke to Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived the attack while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party.
Fifteen people died and dozens more were injured when gunmen opened fire on a crowd of more than 1,000 in Bondi’s Archer Park on December 14th.
Ms Chapnik Kahn said it was an “honour” to meet the couple, adding: “The greater problem in the world right now is hate.
“Hate is a human problem that we’re facing, a very big problem. So to highlight that, to be able to connect with them on this heart level, I think is very special.”
Chapnik Kahn told the eSporty News: “When the gunshots started, we started running towards the beach, and it became very clear we weren’t going to make it to the beach and stay alive. So we hid in a picnic area.
“I didn’t want my daughter to die with gunshots and sirens and wailing mothers – I just couldn’t reconcile that those would be her last moments.
“So I spoke really clearly into her ear, and I said: ‘My darling, go inside yourself where all the love is, and stay there. Stay in your heart, my baby’.
“And she heard me, and we laid there together in this heart space in the middle of horror for who knows how long, and we survived.”
The couple also spoke to Elon Zizer, 40, who survived after being shot numerous times while shielding his children.
He said: “It’s an honour to meet the duke and duchess. It’s very beautiful that they’ve come and made an effort to meet us.
“It’s very special – it makes us feel heard.”
Lifeguard Jonathan Botts, who responded to the attacks, said Harry and Meghan’s visit “means a lot”.
“We had about 50 people at a Christmas party upstairs here at the surf club,” he said. “We unfortunately witnessed the whole shooting massacre unfolding in front of our eyes.
“They’ve taken time out of their pretty brief visit to Australia to visit the site and meet with some of the people that were involved and a lot of the people who are affected.”
Harry and Meghan examined artefacts that will make up the new exhibition at the Sydney Jewish Museum, including well-wishing messages and illustrations of members of the public who were hailed as heroes for helping people during the attack.
The couple met Shannon Biederman, the museum’s senior curator, who said it was “really special” to have them visit.
She said: “This event has not only changed the Australian Jewish community, but the Australian community at large.
“It (the exhibition) is ensuring that it’s not forgotten.
“When we start the memorial, in addition to the three tonnes of flowers that we were able to salvage, there were thousands of other items left – there were plush toys, there were crochet flowers, there were Lego flowers.”
Naveed Akram, 24, is accused of 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act over the attack in which dozens of people were injured at Sydney’s Archer Park in December.
New South Wales Police allege Akram and his father – Sajid, 50, who was shot dead by police at the scene – carried out Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996, targeting the Jewish festival of lights.
Discussing Harry and Meghan’s visit to Bondi, Ms Biederman said: “I think it’s really special and I’m really grateful for them coming out.
“It’s been a really challenging time for the community and all of these expressions of unity and support are greatly appreciated.”
Harry and Meghan delighted the public as they headed onto the sand, removing their shoes before walking towards the sea on a gloriously sunny morning, followed by an ever-increasing scrum of media and beachgoers who tried to snap selfies with the couple.
They examined inflatable rescue boats used by lifeguards on the beach, while photographers got their shoes wet in the waves as they chased the perfect shot of the famous pair.
While in Sydney, Harry and Meghan will also join members of the Invictus Games community on the water of the city’s famous harbour and meet past competitors.
Meghan will also be interviewed on stage at a “girls’ weekend” retreat, costing £1,400 per ticket.
VIP tickets for the event at the five-star InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel cost £1,670 and include a group table photo with the duchess.
Her appearance was announced last month by Gemma O’Neill, host of the Her Best Life podcast, which is organising the 300-person event.
The visit will conclude at a rugby fixture in Sydney between New South Wales Waratahs and Moana Pasifika at the Allianz Stadium on Friday.
The Sydney Jewish Museum’s senior curator said it was “really special” to have Harry and Meghan view artefacts that will make up a new exhibition.
