The Duchess of Sussex held a behind-the-scenes meeting with Commonwealth scholars to hear about their commitment to tackling global challenges ahead of her final official public duty as a senior royal.
Meghan Markle, 38, in her role as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), chatted with the students at Buckingham Palace before the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Newly-released photographs of the American former actress show Meghan, who was wearing a £330 crepe knit navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail by Australian designer Scanlan Theodore, listening to one scholar, and in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen’s London home.
The duchess swept her hair into a chic ponytail and teamed her outfit with navy stiletto heels and minimal jewellery.
Meghan Markle, 38, in her role as patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), chatted with the students at Buckingham Palace before the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday
The images were taken by her and Prince Harry’s wedding photographer, Chris Allerton.
Meghan told the scholars, who were split into four groups looking at different challenges: ‘Everyone is connected because of this very holistic approach to tackling climate change. I love how solution-based you all are.’
A source said: ‘She was thrilled to have the chance to meet inspirational scholars doing ground-breaking work in the fields of climate and the environment, sustainable cities, health and innovation and technology.’
Meghan was made royal patron of ACU in January 2019, taking over from the Queen, who held the post for 33 years.
After walking away from the monarchy on March 31, the duchess will continue her links to ACU as patron.
The Duchess of Sussex, pictured in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen’s London home on Monday
The behind-the-scenes meeting took place during the duchess’ farewell tour, which culminated in Meghan and the Duke of Sussex appearing alongside other members of the royal family at the Abbey.
Joanna Newman, secretary general of the ACU, said the duchess’s understanding of the value of higher education was a key part of her association with the charity.
‘She’s a very powerful spokesperson for us,’ she said.
Timothy Biswick, a University of Leicester research fellow from Malawi, who is looking at microplastic pollution in the oceans, said of the duchess: ‘She knows what she’s talking about in terms of climate change.
The Commonwealth Day service was Harry and Meghan’s final hurrah as senior royals before they bow out and embrace their new life in North America – after announcing their intention to quit in January
‘She was talking about things in quite some detail, so you know that this person knows what they are talking about and are passionate about it.’
The students included Commonwealth Scholars, Chevening Scholars and an ACU Blue Charter Fellow, from 11 Commonwealth countries – Malawi, India, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The Commonwealth Day service was Harry and Meghan’s final hurrah as senior royals before they bow out and embrace their new life in North America – after announcing their intention to quit in January.
From March 31, the monarch’s grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom.
Meghan is reported to have flown back to Canada soon after the Commonwealth Service.
From March 31, the monarch’s grandson and American former actress Meghan will no longer use their HRH styles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom
Earlier today it emerged how Prince Harry opened his heart about Megxit, being more ‘normal’ than other royals and how Donald Trump has ‘blood on his hands’ in two toe-curling phone chats with Russian pranksters posing as environmentalist Greta Thunberg and her father.
The Duke of Sussex insisted he chose to withdraw from royal life to ‘protect my son’ and said ‘we are completely separate from the majority of my family’ in hoax calls that give extraordinary insight into his state of mind as the couple quit this year.
When asked about Meghan he admitted candidly that ‘marrying a prince or princess isn’t all it’s made up to be’ and that their new life in Canada is ‘much better’ than serving as senior royals.
In the hoax call, Prince Harry also insisted that his military service had made him ‘more normal than my family would like to believe’. Pictured: Harry and Meghan at the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall on March 7
Harry, who is not believed to have met Greta, also talked about Donald Trump and the world’s ‘sick’ leaders, why he needs to use private jets despite campaigning on climate change and having nothing to do with his uncle Prince Andrew.
Prince Harry also insisted that his military service had made him ‘more normal than my family would like to believe’ in the bombshell hoax calls revealed by The Sun today.
A spokesman for Harry has said today that they are not commenting on the exchanges.