Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was spotted dining with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai at Claridge’s in Mayfair on Wednesday evening, in what represents her first known public appearance in London since relocating to Britain.
The 45-year-old Duchess and the 29-year-old Pakistani activist were photographed at the prestigious hotel, with footage later surfacing on TikTok showing the pair seated together and engaged in what appeared to be an intense discussion.
Meghan’s solo outing suggests Prince Harry remained at home with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The family arrived back in the UK on August 26, settling in the Cotswolds rather than London, six years after departing Britain and relinquishing their roles as senior working royals.
The two women share a longstanding commitment to championing education for girls worldwide. They first connected during a virtual discussion in October 2020, held to mark International Day of the Girl, in which Prince Harry also took part.
During that Zoom conversation, hosted by the Malala Fund, the Duchess and the activist explored the systemic obstacles preventing millions of young women from accessing schooling.
“When young girls have access to education, everyone wins, and everyone succeeds. It just opens the door for societal success at the highest level,” Meghan said at the time.
Ms Yousafzai later reflected on their exchange, stating: “Meghan and I are on the same page: we both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins.”
With International Day of the Girl falling on October 11, just days after their Claridge’s meeting, the timing of the dinner has fuelled speculation that a fresh collaborative project between the two advocates may be in the works.
The TikTok clip, posted by user @losrodríguez.mx, was filmed by fellow diners who captured themselves clinking glasses of wine while the duchess and Ms Yousafzai sat in a corner booth behind them.
“POV: Claridge’s decided to seat Meghan Markle and Malala in front of you,” the caption read.
Meghan appeared dressed casually in a white turtleneck with her hair swept into a low bun, while Ms Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate in history, wore a beige coat. The pair looked deeply absorbed in conversation throughout the evening.
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Since touching down in Britain, the Sussexes have been gradually easing into their new surroundings. On October 2, Harry and Meghan were photographed walking hand-in-hand into the Falkland Arms pub in the Cotswolds.
A fortnight earlier, on September 21, the Duchess had enjoyed an afternoon at The Three Horseshoes near Burford, Oxfordshire, reuniting with longtime friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi.
Archie and Lilibet have already been enrolled in a British school, starting in September.
The Sussexes retain their Montecito, California, property but intend to remain in the UK for an extended period.
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