News – Page 4 – Simply Meghan Markle

Duchess Meghan interviews Gloria Steinem in casual backyard chat; pups Guy and Pula join in

Duchess Meghan sat down for a backyard conversation with her new friend, Gloria Steinem, about women’s rights and voting as the newly returned American royal moved deeper into a politically and socially active lifestyle.

And we got to see her dogs, too: Guy the beagle and Pula the black Labrador, who trotted into the shot, sat down at her feet and could be heard panting loudly on the video clip posted on Twitter.

The black-and-white video of the meeting showed Meghan and Steinem sitting across a table from each other outdoors and socially distanced. It is not clear when the encounter took place.

“Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex and @GloriaSteinem discuss representation, why each vote matters and how all women ‘are linked, not ranked.’ MAKERS has an exclusive look at that historic backyard chat!,” the tweet read.

“Meg, welcome home, I’m so glad that you’re home,” Steinem, 86, tells her.

“Me, too, for so many reasons,” Meghan, 39, responds.

The video was posted by Makers, a Yahoo-hosted site, described on its Twitter account as dedicated to “accelerating the women’s movement through stories of real-life experiences that ignite passion and action.”

In other words, right up Meghan’s current alley now that she and Prince Harry and baby Archie, 1, have left behind the United Kingdom and constrained royal life and moved to Southern California in search of privacy and financial independence.

For Meghan, that has meant being able to speak out about issues such as voting rights, women’s rights and women’s empowerment, which would have been more difficult in the U.K. under traditions barring royal involvement in politics. Last week she appeared via video at an online event to encourage more people to vote. “We all know what’s at stake this year,” she said.

This kind of activism has inspired some gnashing of teeth in British tabloids; Piers Morgan, co-host of “Good Morning Britain,” a Daily Mail columnist and one of Meghan’s sharpest critics, called for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to be stripped of their titles because of her “brazenly partisan” involvement in America’s presidential election.

According to the Makers tweet, a full transcript of Meghan’s Q&A with Steinem, the legendary American feminist leader, will be released Wednesday.

Ten days ago, while participating in a similar conversation with the co-founder of a new women-oriented media platform, Meghan mentioned she had been talking “recently” with her new friend Steinem.

Although it was not clear where the conversation with Steinem took place, the presence of the pooches means it could have been in the backyard of Harry and Meghan’s new multi-million-dollar home in Santa Barbara County’s Montecito.

Guy is one of the dogs Meghan adopted and lived with in Toronto for the years she was there filming “Suits,” the USA TV series she was co-starring in when she met Harry in the summer of 2016. Pula was adopted by the couple after she moved to London to join Harry in 2017, before they married in Windsor in May 2018.

Before she met Harry, Guy was a star on Meghan’s lifestyle blog, The Tig. She shut down the blog as her relationship with Harry grew. Pula has rarely been seen until now.

From the brief video clip, Meghan seemed to be excited about talking with Steinem.

“People forget how hard women like you and so many others like you fought for us to be where we are right now,” she told Steinem.

“If you don’t vote you don’t exist,” Steinem said. “It is the only place where we’re all equal, the voting booth.”

Meghan had a wide-brimmed sun hat and was dressed in white, including wide-legged striped pants. Steinem was all in black.

Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/

in Charities News

Meghan Markle delivers 1st major speech since stepping away from royal duties

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, took the virtual stage at the U.N. Foundation’s 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit Tuesday, marking her first major speech since she and husband Prince Harry stepped away from their royal duties earlier this year.

The international event gave the 38-year-old keynote speaker the opportunity to greet girls across the globe with an empowering message.

The former Meghan Markle addressed “young women around the world who aren’t just poised to change the world, but have already begun changing the world,” and she informed them that they have even more leverage in that world than they realize.

“I want to share something with you,” she said. “It’s that those in the halls and corridors and places of power — from lawmakers and world leaders to executives — all of those people, they depend on you more than you will ever depend on them. And here’s the thing: They know this.

“They know that all of you, at a younger age than any modern comparison, are setting the tone for an equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push it, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, more just, and more empathetic direction. To not only frame the debate but be in charge of the debate — on racial justice, gender, climate change, mental health and well-being, on civic engagement, on public service, on so much more. That’s the work you’re already out there doing.”

And that’s the work she believes the next generation of women can do like no other before, by reimagining and reframing the status quo — especially those who are already benefiting from programs like Girl Up, which supports U.N. agencies that focus on adolescent girls.

“Girl Up members are organizing Black Lives Matter protests around the world, you are creating films to encourage your peers to become activist leaders, you are reforming the criminal justice system, you are telling your school boards we need more mental health resources for all ages, you are leading coalitions to end gun violence,” she told them. “You are standing up and demanding to be heard, yes, but you’re also demanding to own the conversation.”

But Meghan didn’t simply use the forum to applaud what girls are already doing. She also offered advice about the work that still needs to be done.

She noted:

“We are not meant to be breaking each other down; we are meant to be building each other up. So use your voice both on and offline to do just that — build each other up, support each other.”
“The moment we are living through right now asks all of us to do more. It’s a moment where your voices, and your action, have never been more urgently needed.”
“Believing in true equality is not enough — it’s going to take more than belief, we have to work for it every day, even when it’s hard and even when it makes others feel uneasy.”

While Tuesday’s address was Meghan’s first major speaking engagement since officially retreating from royal duties in March, she’s remained busy in the wake of what many dubbed “Megxit,” despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In March, she reached out to a woman looking for work via video call for a pep talk. In June, she had stirring words for the graduating class of her high school alma mater, Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. And earlier this month, she was joined by Harry to discuss racial injustice with young leaders and activists.

Her ongoing work stresses the most important part of her message to girls: The vital thing to do is to start doing something.

“Look, sometimes it’s not obvious what to do,” she told those gathered for the Girl Up summit. “Often, it’s fear that paralyzes us and stops us from being brave and being bold. But don’t underestimate that you have some of the answers. Don’t underestimate your ability to push through the fear. You have, rooted in your convictions, the ability to craft a world that you know is just and kind. Your gut will tell you what’s right and what’s wrong; what’s fair and unfair. The hardest part — and it was the hardest part for me — is to chase your convictions with action.”

Source: https://www.today.com/

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New Book About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Promises to Tell the “True Story” of the Sussexes’ Relationship

Later this month, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will celebrate their second wedding anniversary, but the royal couple has already been through enough together—both good times and bad—to warrant a joint biography.

Today, HarperCollins announced the acquisition of Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, by reporters Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. (Scobie is a royal editor at T&C’s sister brand Harper’s Bazaar, while Durand contributes to O, The Oprah Magazine and Elle, which are also owned by T&C’s parent company, Hearst.)

“With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, Finding Freedom is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world,” reads a brief summary from the publisher.

While the authors promise sources that offer the inside scoop on the royal couple, it is understood that this is not an official or endorsed project by Harry or Meghan, and it doesn’t claim to have interviews with the couple, as was previously rumored.

“The aim of this book is to portray the real Harry and Meghan, a couple who continue to inspire many around the world through their humanitarian and charitable work but are often inaccurately portrayed,” Scobie and Durand said in a joint statement released with today’s announcement.

“Our mission has been motivated by a desire to tell an accurate version of their journey and finally present the truth of misreported stories that have become gospel simply because of the amount of times they have been repeated. It is thanks to our sources that we have been able to share the definitive story of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

Finding Freedom: Harry, Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family is slated to be released this summer.

Source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com

in News

How Meghan and Harry Will Tell Their Side of the Story

Only days after lawyers for Meghan Markle faced off with the Mail on Sunday’s parent company in a remote pre-trial hearing, the tabloid came back with another big scoop on the duchess and her husband, Prince Harry. The pair have been collaborating with journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand on a biographical look at their last few years, provisionally called Thoroughly Modern Royals: The Real World of Meghan and Harry.

The book’s two authors have had a fruitful relationship with Meghan and Harry, and have already gotten exclusive access to some of their events. Scobie, who writes for Harper’s Bazaar and is a Good Morning America correspondent, has covered Meghan for years, and was one of two journalists granted exclusive access to Meghan’s last private event as a member of the royal family in March. Durand, a contributor to Elle, attended Meghan’s private event at a London school. According to the Mail on Sunday, Meghan and Harry sat for interviews with Durand and Scobie before they announced their exit in January.

The book was reportedly set to come out in June, but its release date has been pushed to August due to the coronavirus crisis. Dey Street Books, the publisher who released Jessica Simpson’s Open Book earlier this year, hasn’t confirmed the release yet, but their website does feature a cryptic page advertising a book by the authors “Eibocs” and “Dnarud”—Scobie and Durand backwards—with a release date of August 11.

According to a source with knowledge of the deal, the book will cover the period from Meghan and Harry’s introduction to their royal exit in March, including details about her deteriorating relationship with the Markle family. It will approach those years from the perspective of the couple and cast Meghan in a more flattering light than many tabloid stories have.

Their cooperation tracks with some of their motivations from stepping back from the royal family earlier this year. In January, they released statements complaining about the royal rota system, which didn’t always allow them to choose the journalists they worked with. In a documentary last fall, Meghan said she hadn’t been able to develop a “stiff upper lip” and expressed frustration at her inability to rebut stories that she saw as unfair.

While this approach to a royal biography is far from the conventional process for the Buckingham Palace press team, it has precedent. In 1992, Queen Elizabeth was already in the middle of what she would later call her “annus horribilis” when much of her family’s dirty laundry found its way to the public in the form of a tell-all book. Princess Diana had cooperated with Andrew Morton, a tabloid veteran, on Diana: Her True Story, which documented her difficult days in the palace and the affair between Prince Charles and his future wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

While the bombshell announcements of the book fueled its status as a bestseller, a more subtle angle of Morton’s story resonates more than two decades after Diana’s death. The book painted a picture of a woman who had suffered personally but was motivated by concern for how her in-laws were adapting to the modern era. “She finds the monarchy claustrophobic and completely outdated with no relevance to today’s life and problems,” a friend of hers told Morton. “She feels that it is a crumbling institution and believes that the family won’t know what has hit it in a few years’ time unless it changes too.”

At a moment when Diana was attempting to negotiate her own exit from the family, the book’s publication strained her already rocky relationship with the Queen. But it also endeared her to an international audience and helped her maintain popularity despite the messiness of a royal divorce. When Vanity Fair wrote about the fallout after the book’s publication in February 1993, the story was called “Diana’s Revenge.”

Meghan and Harry’s choice to go public doesn’t seem to have as much to do with their feelings about the family’s state of affairs. When they stepped back as senior royals, Meghan and Harry were hoping they could find a more progressive role within the family, but were only able to achieve that by leaving their roles behind entirely. Participating in a book might be the most forceful way they are able to make that change without deliberately agitating their relatives.

In charting their careers outside of the royal family, the couple have reportedly taken pains to stay on the monarchy’s good side. There’s no reason to believe that Thoroughly Modern Royals will drop any information that will leave the queen fuming, though there’s a chance that their choice could backfire. But by working with Durand and Scobie, two British journalists who write for American outlets, they’re making a point about who this book is aimed at. Meghan and Harry don’t seem to be trying to set the house on fire—just looking for an opportunity to get a few things off their chests.

Source: https://www.vanityfair.com

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Meghan Markle talks about Disney+ ‘Elephant’ documentary

Meghan Markle’s first major project since stepping back from her senior role in the royal family is finally here. The Duchess of Sussex lent her voice to the new Disney nature documentary Elephant, and this morning, she appeared in an exclusive clip on Good Morning America to promote the movie.

“I am really grateful to be able to bring this story of elephants to life,” Meghan said in the behind-the-scenes interview, which was filmed by Disney last year.

“I’ve been really lucky to be able to have hands-on experience with elephants in their natural habitat. When you spend time connecting to them in their wildlife you understand that we have a role to play in their preservation and their safety.”

The film, which is streaming now on Disney+, centers around a herd of elephants on an “epic journey” across the Kalahari Desert, and specifically follows an African elephant named Shani and her son Jomo.

“These creatures are so majestic and at the same time, they are so sensitive and so connected,” Meghan said on GMA. “You see in this film just how remarkable they are. Their memories are amazing, the close connection of the herd, the protectiveness of their young—I think they are a lot more like us than they are different.”

Back in January of this year, it was reported that Meghan had signed a voiceover deal with Disney to benefit the wildlife charity Elephants Without Borders, and this project is in partnership with the conservation organization.

“I hope that when people see this film they realize how connected we all are and if we had more of an awareness about the obstacles they are facing we would take care of each other, this planet and these animals in a very different way,” she said.

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Screencaptures Good Morning America – April 20 2020

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‘Good Morning America’ Gets First Meghan Markle Interview

Meghan Markle will talk with Good Morning America on Monday, marking her first television interview since she and Prince Harry split from the royal family. The subject? Elephant, the Disney documentary film that she narrated.

Markle and Harry have been seen recently delivering food to Los Angeles shut-ins for the Project Angel Food charity. The couple recently relocated to Los Angeles and reportedly are living in Malibu while searching for a permanent home and establishing their new business endeavors.

The ABC morning show is promoting Markle as a special guest for Monday’s show, as a voiceover says she’ll offer “an exclusive first look” at the documentary. Hard-hitting questions on their Megxit decision and President Trump’s recent vow not to provide taxpayer paid security are likely off the table.

The documentary is a Disney+ streaming film that follows an elephant herd on a journey through Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Source: https://deadline.com/

in Charities News

Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Give Their New Nonprofit A Name

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might have resigned as royals, but the couple has no trouble staying in the news.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had planned to use SussexRoyal as a branding tool for their global endeavors, but that idea was pooh-poohed by Buckingham Palace. Now they have settled on a moniker for their nonprofit organization: Archewell.

The moniker invokes the name of their son — Archie — spiced with some Greek. The couple said in a statement:

“Like you, our focus is on supporting efforts to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic but faced with this information coming to light, we felt compelled to share the story of how this came to be. Before SussexRoyal, came the idea of ‘Arche’ — the Greek word meaning ‘source of action.’ We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name.

“To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.”

The couple had planned to keep the name secret until they made an announcement, but enterprising reporters at The Telegraph found it at the U.S Patent and Trademark Office, where a filing was made last month.

Source: https://deadline.com/

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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Share Final Update as Senior Working Royals

With Tuesday, March 31, marking Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s final day as senior working royals, the couple have taken to their @SussexRoyal Instagram account one last time.

A spokesperson for the couple announced today that, though they “would prefer that in the immediate weeks and months, the focus remains on the global response to COVID-19,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex understand that there are outstanding questions relating to their future outside of the Royal Household, which officially begins on April 1.

The March 30 post marks the final time the couple post under the @SussexRoyal handle and also the end of SussexRoyal.com, the website they launched at the start of the year to outline details of their transition from royal duties. From this point onwards, the accounts will become inactive.

As has previously been reported, the couple will now spend the future focusing on their non-profit organization, having shelved ideas last year to establish a U.K.-based Sussex Royal Foundation. Though Travalyst—Harry’s sustainable tourism venture, which was to be an anchor initiative for the foundation—will continue, all other aspects of the charity are being wound up.

“The Trustees of the Sussex Royal Foundation have been an invaluable resource to The Duke and Duchess, providing essential guidance,” says the spokesperson. “The Duke and Duchess are incredibly grateful for the Trustees’ support and counsel in recent months.”

Travalyst, one of Harry’s main focuses for the year ahead, is now being established as an independent non-profit organization based in the U.K.

“COVID-19 has presented the world with one of the greatest public health and socio-economic challenges of modern times,” says a statement released March 30. “It has also forced one of the biggest human behavioral changes in generations. When restrictions related to controlling the pandemic ease, the role of responsible tourism to support communities and destinations around the world will be more important than ever. The Duke is working closely with each of the Travalyst partners to better understand how this non-profit organization can aid in global recovery, especially by supporting communities, wildlife and the environment at the same time.”

Despite President Trump’s breathless March 29th tweet about refusing the couple security in the U.S., where they are now currently based, Harry and Meghan have already made their own private security arrangements. “For their safety and that of those protecting them, no further comment or guidance will be provided,” says the Sussex spokesperson, who adds that tabloid reports and speculation on security measures “interferes with operational ability and adds risk to all those receiving protection, those who are protecting them, and potentially to members of the public.”

From the end of Tuesday, the couple will no longer rely on their household office at Buckingham Palace, which was headed up by communications secretary Sara Latham and private secretary Fiona Mcilwham. In the U.S., PR firm Sunshine Sachs will represent the couple for media enquiries, while trusted former Royal Foundation aide James Holt will handle the role for the U.K. and Commonwealth. Starting in April, former staffer from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Catherine St-Laurent, will start in a post as Chief of Staff to the couple and also serve as Executive Director of their new yet-to-be-named non-profit organization.

In a statement shared with BAZAAR.com, the duke and duchess said, “We are proud to be joined by Catherine St-Laurent in this next chapter with us. Her leadership and proven track record working within two organizations that have tremendous impact in the world—the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Pivotal Ventures—make her an incredible asset and we are excited to have her on our team.”

St-Laurent joins from Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company created by Melinda Gates, where she helped lay the groundwork for the organization since its inception in 2015. Prior to this, Catherine led Melinda Gates’s communications for several years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A native of Montreal, St-Laurent moved to Seattle in 2011 after nearly a decade working in Brussels and London.

“From our very first conversation, Harry and Meghan have expressed a deep commitment to improving lives and having a positive impact on society,” St-Laurent tells BAZAAR in a statement. “Their perspective on the role that empathy, connection, and compassion can play in that mission is both deeply personal and incredibly timely. I am delighted and honored to be able to play a role in realizing their vision as they embark on this journey of learning, listening, and inspiring all of us to act.”

As Harry, Meghan, and their son Archie settle in to their new lives in California, their spokesperson adds, “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend the next few months focusing on their family and continuing to do what they can, safely and privately, to support and work with their pre-existing charitable commitments while developing their future non-profit organization.”

The duke and duchess remain committed and supportive to their patronages and will continue to work closely with them.

Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Have Left Canada and Are Now Settled in L.A.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have left Vancouver Island in Canada for the U.S., a source tells PEOPLE.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved from the home they were staying in on Vancouver Island and are now settled in the U.S., the source says. They are in Los Angeles — Meghan’s hometown. They have been living in a secluded compound and haven’t ventured out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A representative for the couple had no comment.

Although the couple and their 10-month-old son Archie had been living in Canada since announcing they were stepping back from their royal roles in January, sources told PEOPLE that they had been making plans to spend time in L.A.

Meghan, 38, has a big support system in L.A., including her mother Doria Ragland, who works as a social worker and yoga instructor, and several friends who visited the couple on Vancouver Island.

A person in their circle previously told PEOPLE that they were “looking at houses in L.A.”

“Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family,” another source said. “They will be spending time in California…He’s not looking back.”

On Wednesday, it was announced that Harry’s father Prince Charles, 71, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Prince Charles has spoken to his sons Prince William and Prince Harry to share the news of his positive coronavirus diagnosis, the palace confirms.

Charles was last with his sons William and Harry in public on March 9 at the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. The event marked Harry and wife Meghan Markle’s last official royal event in the U.K. before they officially step down as senior working royals on March 31.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared messages of support amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“These are uncertain times. And now, more than ever, we need each other. We need each other for truth, for support, and to feel less alone during a time that can honestly feel quite scary,” they wrote on Instagram last week. “There are so many around the world who need support right now, who are working tirelessly to respond to this crisis behind the scenes, on the frontline, or at home. Our willingness, as a people, to step up in the face of what we are all experiencing with COVID-19 is awe-inspiring. This moment is as true a testament there is to the human spirit.”

On Monday, they paid tribute to healthcare workers in a post, saying: “Around the world, the response from people in every walk of life, to protect and look out for their communities has been inspiring. None more so than the brave and dedicated healthcare workers on the frontline, risking their own well-being to care for the sick and fight COVID-19. Wherever you are in the world, we are all incredibly grateful.”

Meghan’s first post-royal gig was announced on Thursday. The Duchess of Sussex has provided the narration for the upcoming Disneynature documentary, Elephants, streaming on April 3 on Disney+.

Source: https://people.com

in Movies News

Meghan Markle To Voice ‘Elephant’ Documentary For Disney+

Disney+ documentary Elephant is getting a royal voiceover after the streamer confirmed that Meghan Markle is to narrate the film.

The doc, produced by Disneynature, will launch on the digital platform on April 3.

This comes after her husband, Prince Harry, was overheard to have to lobbied former Disney CEO Bob Iger to help his wife get voiceover work. Disney noted that the film would be narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, one of the last times that she will be able to use that title before she gives it up at the end of the month.

Directed by Mark Linfield, co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz and Alastair Fothergill, and produced by Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz and Roy Conli, Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her son Jomo as their herd make a journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

Source: https://deadline.com

in Charities News

Inside Duchess Meghan’s Emotional Farewell to Royal Life at a Private Engagement

It was supposed to be a quiet day off in the countryside until my phone went berserk—the staccato buzz I set for palace correspondence almost sending it off the table. “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle,” the November 27, 2017, email read, followed by a note inviting royal correspondents to join the couple for a special photo call to mark the occasion. A few road rules may have been bent to make the 80-ish mile drive from Oxfordshire to Kensington Palace—in traffic—but it was worth it. Standing by the lily-covered Sunken Pond as Harry shared his joy at finally finding his teammate, it was the perfect start to a chapter that would finally bring the royal family into the 21st century.

Over the months and years that followed, I closely shadowed the work of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, getting to know the couple better through their humanitarian endeavors, engagements, and overseas visits. Their high-energy work ethic and passion for social justice attracted a new, more diverse demographic of royal watcher to the scene. As a young(ish), biracial royal correspondent, the change was exciting. And as their popularity grew around the world, so did a new golden era for the House of Windsor. Continue reading Inside Duchess Meghan’s Emotional Farewell to Royal Life at a Private Engagement

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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Spotlight Military Veterans at Awards Ceremony

Outside London’s Mansion House venue, all eyes were on Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan as the dozens of cameras clicked away for their arrival at one of their final royal engagements.

But inside this year’s Endeavour Fund Awards, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did all they could to ensure that the night—which celebrates the achievements of wounded, injured, and sick military personnel—was not about them.

Arriving at the evening ceremony, Harry quickly put the focus back on the servicemen and servicewomen who have spent the past year taking part in remarkable sporting and adventure challenges. “This is all about you guys!” he told wife of rowing marine Lee Spencer, Claire, during a reception for guests.

Both Harry and Meghan handed out awards at the annual ceremony, which was hosted by former Invictus Games medalist JJ Chalmers. The duchess was first to announce the Celebrating Excellence prize, honoring Guinness World Record holder Lee Spencer, who became the world’s first physically disabled person to row from Europe to South America solo and unsupported.

“It’s very nice to be back,” Meghan said of her return to the U.K., adding that she and Harry carried out their judging commitments from their Canada home. “It’s the most inspiring space … so I will say when we were watching the videos all the way from Canada we were like, ‘Who are we going to choose?’”

Prince Harry was on-hand to present the Henry Worsley Award to veteran Tom Oates, who is overcoming severe PTSD to dedicate his life to helping others through deptherapy—a specially adapted scuba diving program for injured military personnel and former members of the British Armed Forces.

“Meghan and I are so happy to be back here with you, to celebrate each and every one of you for your achievements, your service, and your resilience,” Harry, who served 10 years in the army, said in a speech. “For some, the military community represents a brotherhood or sisterhood that no other organization can provide, and for others, it’s a way of life which you never want to leave. For a lot of us, it’s both. Being able to serve Queen and Country is something we all are rightly proud of, and it never leaves us. Once served, always serving!”

The couple were left open-mouthed when the ceremony’s first winner, Danny Holland, was given the Recognizing Achievement Award for his success as a driver for “Mission Motorsport.” Holland, who has overcome mental health issues after being injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan, got down on bended knee as he asked his “missus” for her hand in marriage. Both Harry and Meghan got up to cheer as the the audience applauded.

Since its 2012 launch, The Endeavour Fund has supported 108 projects with over $3.8 million in grants that has assisted over 6,000 servicemembers with opportunities to rediscover self-belief and fighting spirit through physical challenges.

As part of their agreement to step away from royal duties, Harry’s military appointments have been put on hold, but during his speech the duke reinforced his commitment to working with his patronages and organizations such as the Endeavour Fund. “[The fund] came from seeing the gaping hole that can be left after taking off that uniform,” he explained. “I firmly believe that there is an even greater future ahead. Our ambition is to build on what has been achieved—to expand the Endeavour Fund further so that its impact can be felt around the world.”

Harry’s speech coincided with an announcement that the Endeavour Fund will be working much more closely with the Invictus Games in the future. On Wednesday, March 4, Harry privately attended an Invictus Games Foundation and Royal Society evening reception after the two organizations hosted a conference on the future of trauma recovery earlier in the day. Leading figures from academia, industry, the NHS, armed forces, and voluntary sector came together for the one-day event.

Source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to Officially Close Buckingham Palace Office at the End of March

As of April 1, Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer have an office at Buckingham Palace, a spokesperson for the couple said today as more details of their future were confirmed. The Sussexes will transition to their new working model on March 31st, and it has been agreed that there will be an initial 12-month review to “ensure the arrangement works for all parties.”

A spokesperson said that due to the fact that the Duke and Duchess will not be undertaking official engagements in support of the Queen, which are funded by the Sovereign Grant, that an office at Buckingham Palace was “no longer needed.” They will continue to be represented through their UK foundation team.

The couple will split their time between the UK and North America and will continue to work closely with their existing patronages. A spokesperson said they are planning to carry out engagements in the UK and Commonwealth throughout the year.

They have also been having meetings to establish a new non-profit organization, more details of which will be shared later in the year.

The themes of their work will be a continuation of the causes those they already support. “The Duke’s priorities remain supporting the welfare of servicemen and women, conservation, sport for social development, HIV, and Travalyst which works to mobilize the tourism and travel industry for social good,” a spokesperson said, adding: “For The Duchess, her focus remains women’s empowerment, gender equality and education.”

It was previously announced that Harry would give up his honorary military positions and a spokesperson said today that he will not use them for 12 months. However, no new appointments will be made to fill these roles before the 12-month review of the new arrangements is completed. His involvement with the Invictus Games will continue.

Harry will remain sixth in line to the throne and he and Meghan’s status in the Order of Precedence is unchanged. As previously announced, however, they will retain but not use their HRH styles and will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Before the new arrangement takes effect, several public appearances are planned for the couple which will be covered by media in the usual way with a royal rota in place. Harry will make a visit to see the Invictus Games Choir at a recording session on February 28th, and he and Meghan will attend the Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5th to recognize wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans who have gone on to use sport and adventurous challenge as part of their recovery.

Harry will also join Lewis Hamilton at the official opening of immersive museum the Silverstone Experience on March 6th. And he and Meghan will attend the Mountbatten Music Festival on March 7th at the Royal Albert Hall to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent. Meghan will make a public appearance to Mary International Women’s Day on March 8th, and they will both attend the Commonwealth Service on March 9th with the Queen and the rest of the royal family.

Once the new working model takes effect, the couple will attend the Invictus Games in May, and Harry is also expected to be at the London Marathon in April in his capacity as patron.

Source: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/

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Why Were Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Taking Meetings At Stanford?

Less than a week after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first official appearance as ex-royals, the couple flew to California to take a meeting in an unlikely place. NBC News reports that the duke and duchess spent Tuesday at Stanford University, where they conducted a “brainstorming session” with a collection of professors. The meeting lasted a few hours and was organized around their ongoing work to found a global nonprofit organization.

According to NBC, the couple flew commercial to Palo Alto, and were greeted at the campus by the university’s president Marc Tessier-Lavigne. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford is known for its close ties to the tech industry, a subject that Meghan and Harry have not expressed too much interest in so far. But their Graduate School of Business is well-known for its nonprofit track and Center for Social Innovation, where professors and students research impact investing, responsible sourcing, and protest, among many other topics.

When Meghan and Harry announced their desire to leave their positions as senior royals in January, they highlighted their commitment to charity on a website they designed to explain their reasoning. “The range of communities supported by The Duke of Sussex include groups promoting environmental and societal well-being,” the website says. “While supporting Prince Harry’s work in these areas, The Duchess of Sussex has continued to focus particular energy on women’s empowerment and gender equality, as she has for many years.”

It comes just days after reports claimed that the couple is already well on their way to lining up work. After reports that Meghan was working on a voiceover role for Disney, in exchange for a donation to Elephants Without Borders, the Daily Mail spoke to a source who said that Meghan is planning on continuing work with Disney. CNBC confirmed Wednesday that Harry is in talks to appear on Goldman Sachs’ webseries, Talks With GS.

Source: https://www.vanityfair.com/

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Meghan and Harry Apparently Took a Secret Trip to Miami

After their exit from the royal family, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry took some time to themselves, and were said to be hiking and doing yoga in a mansion on Vancouver Island. But people close to the couple said that they were already planning their next move and on their way to becoming financially independent—and on Thursday, they made a move that signaled how they’ll get there. Page Six reported that Harry and Meghan spoke at a JP Morgan event in Miami Thursday night.

“Meghan and Harry headlined the event as the keynote speakers,” a source said to the outlet. “It was all very hush-hush, with a lot of security.” The event took place at 1 Hotel in South Beach, and Page Six could not confirm how much the couple was paid for the appearance. JP Morgan declined to comment when reached by Vanity Fair.

Page Six followed up with more details about the speech, which was introduced by Gayle King, a guest at Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding. “Harry spoke about mental health and how he has been in therapy for the past few years to try to overcome the trauma of losing his mother,” the source said, adding that he also addressed the fallout of his and Meghan’s decision to step back as senior royals, “because he wants to protect his family. He does not want Meghan and their son Archie to go through what he did as a child.”

Harry had already spoken at another private event about many of the same topics; on January 20 he spoke at a dinner for his charity Sentebale in London, and said, “When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing, you looked out for me for so long. But the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us.”

By making this speech in Miami, Meghan and Harry are following in the footsteps of politicians and philanthropists who earn significant portions of their income through corporate appearances. In 2016, Hillary Clinton came under fire for a series of speeches to banks and other Wall Street players, making as much as $225,000 for each, and in 2017, Barack Obama made $1.2 million for three speeches he made for various financial firms.

The news comes days after reports that Meghan and Harry are looking to settle in Los Angeles for the summer, though one friend told People that they intend to keep a house in Canada.

Source: https://www.vanityfair.com