Duchess of Sussex Appointed Vice-President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust
Filed in Charities News Queen's Commonwealth Trust

Duchess of Sussex Appointed Vice-President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust is delighted to announce that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex will today become Vice-President of the Trust. The Trust, of which Her Majesty The Queen is Patron and The Duke of Sussex is President, exists to champion, fund and connect young leaders around the world who are driving positive social change, serving their communities and providing hope, work and self-employment opportunities for others.

In this new role, The Duchess will highlight the Trust’s partnerships with young people across the Commonwealth, and in particular its work supporting women and girls. In celebration of International Women’s Day and to mark this appointment, Her Royal Highness will this afternoon join a special panel discussion of female thought-leaders and activists convened by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, to discuss a range of issues affecting women today.

Lord Geidt, Chairman, said:

“The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust is thrilled to welcome The Duchess of Sussex as its Vice-President. The support and encouragement which Her Royal Highness will bring to the young leaders with whom we work promises to have a profound effect. We are enormously grateful to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for this signal of commitment they are making to our work, helping The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to pursue its ambitions right across the Commonwealth and beyond.”

Nicola Brentnall, Chief Executive, said:

“We are particularly delighted that the first opportunity of formally working together with Her Royal Highness comes on International Women’s Day. This squares perfectly with our focus on amplifying the work and contribution of those furthest away from power. Women across the Commonwealth and the globe often face the biggest impediments to success. So we are delighted to have our Vice-President’s support in helping others to overcome those obstacles.’

Those joining The Duchess for the unique panel today include Annie Lennox OBE, founder of The Circle, an organisation supporting and empowering women’s lives around the world; Adwoa Aboah, founder of Gurls Talk, an open community where young girls can talk about the issues that matter to them; Julia Gillard, Former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London; Chrisann Jarrett, Founder of Let Us Learn; and Angeline Murimirwa, Executive Director of the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in Africa and co-founder of CAMA, a pan-African network of young female leaders. The panel will be chaired by Anne McElvoy, Senior Editor of The Economist.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust will be live posting on its social channels on Friday 8th March 2019 and a full video of the discussion will be shared by 5:00pm GMT on the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust website.

Source: Official Site of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust

Share
How Meghan Markle Is Continuing Her ‘Passion’ for Supporting Girls in Education
Filed in News

How Meghan Markle Is Continuing Her ‘Passion’ for Supporting Girls in Education

When Meghan Markle steps onto the stage Friday for a public discussion on girls’ education, she will be continuing a fight she has championed for many years around the world.

Angie Murimirwa, executive director of Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED)this link opens in a new tab, will be among those joining Meghan on a panel discussion for International Women’s Day — along with musician and activist Annie Lennox, model and activist Adwoa Aboah and former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard.

“[Meghan’s] a long-standing supporter for women’s rights, for equality and for equal opportunities, and it is really exciting that she is doing this along with other women who are in the space of education on International Women’s Day,” Murimirwa tells PEOPLE.

“I’m really excited that she’s carrying forward this passion here in Europe.” Continue reading How Meghan Markle Is Continuing Her ‘Passion’ for Supporting Girls in Education

Share
March 06 – The Duchess of Sussex Steps On Stage At WE Day
Filed in Gallery Updates

March 06 – The Duchess of Sussex Steps On Stage At WE Day

Today, March 06, 2019 The Duchess of Sussex made a surprise appearance on stage at We Day in London. Kensington Palace had announced last week that Prince Harry would be attending the event which supports and encourages young people to take part in positive social change. There was no mention of Meghan of attending. At the end of his speech, Prince Harry invited Meghan up on the stage, she didn’t speak, but during his speech Harry quoted one of Meghan’s favorite Martin Luther King quotes:

As my wife often reminds me with one of her favourite quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. – “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

I highly reccommend that you check out Prince Harry’s full speech, which you can read here.

GALLERY LINK
Appearances & Engagements Photos > Engagements in 2019 > March 06 | WE Day UK

Share
How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date
Filed in News Royal Tour Royal Visit

How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date

Climbing into a helicopter to fly deep into Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, you would be forgiven for forgetting that Duchess Meghan is over seven months pregnant. In fact, given how busy recent months have been for the new royal, it would be tough for anyone to object if she wanted to sit out the early-morning expedition—especially after flying in from London less than 48 hours earlier.

But the February 24 trip was a chance to visit a charity championing a cause close to her heart—universal education opportunities for women—and there was no way she was going to miss it. With Prince Harry’s help, she carefully sat down in the cabin and placed noise-isolating headphones over her head. Ready for takeoff.

“Her energy is boundless,” British Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Reilly, who escorted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their three-day visit to the country, tells BAZAAR.com. “Here’s a woman jumping into a helicopter to fly 1,400 meters [almost 4,600 feet] high, still smiling and ready to do it all, ready to push the issues that matter.”

Adds a friend of the duchess, who notes that she’s “feeling so great” in her final trimester, “That’s ‘Super Meg’ for you—giving it her all. Her energy levels have never failed to impress me.”

From gender equality and universal education opportunities to social entrepreneurship and female empowerment, the visit’s three-day itinerary shone a spotlight on the issues most important to the duchess. Prince Harry, already established as a humanitarian force of his own, often let Meghan take the lead during their nine Moroccan engagements, leaning in to her ear periodically to see if his wife was feeling “okay” along the way. She always was.

After their helicopter dropped them off in the small town of Asni, Meghan spoke to executives from Education For All, a charity that provides education opportunities to girls from rural parts of Morocco, about the importance of universal literacy. “It’s important that every girl has access to further and higher education,” she said. Meghan, conscious of a potential language barrier, even prepared questions in a French to ask the 12- to 18-year-old students who live at the boarding house. Continue reading How Duchess Meghan Won Morocco’s Heart Just Weeks Before Her Due Date

Share
Inside Meghan Markle’s ‘Beautiful’ Baby Shower Serena Williams Hosted in New York City
Filed in News

Inside Meghan Markle’s ‘Beautiful’ Baby Shower Serena Williams Hosted in New York City

Meghan Markle spent her final full day in New York City attending the spectacular baby shower her friend Serena Williams hosted for her in the penthouse suite of the Upper East Side’s five-star Mark Hotel.

A Royal insider shared with ELLE.com that “the shower was a chance for Meg to share excitement of the baby with her closest friends, some of which she hadn’t seen for some time. It was a beautiful gathering filled with love and celebration—she couldn’t stop smiling.”

While Meghan has adjusted to life behind Palace walls, she relishes the time with her nearest and dearest, many of whom live on the other side of the Atlantic in the U.S. or Canada.

Williams took special care planning the perfect party for Meghan: “Serena had made sure all the little things she liked were there: her favorite foods, flowers and music. Everything was so thoughtful and tastefully done,” the source said. Continue reading Inside Meghan Markle’s ‘Beautiful’ Baby Shower Serena Williams Hosted in New York City

Share
Duchess Meghan Makes Surprise Visit to NYC for a Girls’ Trip
Filed in News

Duchess Meghan Makes Surprise Visit to NYC for a Girls’ Trip

After back to back engagements and the launch of four successful patronages, the Duchess of Sussex is taking a well-earned break—in New York!

Sources reveal to BAZAAR.com that Duchess Meghan has made a personal visit to the Big Apple to see friends ahead of the birth of Baby Sussex in less two months.

Meghan flew from London to New York on Friday, February 15, for five nights of rest, shopping, and good food with some of her closest and most loyal pals—her first time in NYC since getting married.

“The trip is a lovely chance to catch up with friends and spend time in a city she loves,” says a source close to the duchess, who notes the trip was planned months ago. “This will be the last time a lot of them will see Meg until after the baby is born so it’s nice to share precious moments.”

While Meghan is spending much of her days enjoying the amenities and private dining arrangements available at her five-star hotel (name respectfully withheld for security reasons), there has also been time to enjoy some of her favorite spots in the city.

Joined by stylist pal Jessica Mulroney, who was in town for Good Morning America commitments, the pair visited Ladurée in New York’s SoHo district on Saturday, February 16, for macarons and tea in one of the bakery’s private spaces.

Adds a source, “It’s been a relaxing visit. Nothing beats face time with your friends. Meg will be flying home refreshed and relaxed—and with a lot of new baby clothes.”

Just a day before traveling, the duchess spent a quiet Valentine’s Day with Prince Harry at their Kensington Palace home—a world away from what she once described as the perfect Valentine’s in NYC.

In a February 2016 post on her lifestyle blog The Tig, Meghan wrote, “This Valentine’s Day I will be with friends, running amok through the streets of New York, likely imbibing some cocktail that’s oddly pink, and jumping over icy mounds in my new shoes through the salted snowy streets of the West Village.”

Later this week, Meghan will be taking her last flight until after the birth. She’s headed to Morocco with her husband for an official two-day visit to North Africa arranged by the British government.

Says a Palace spokesman of the February 23–25 trip, “The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to the visit which will highlight the vital roles that girls’ education and youth empowerment are playing in, and shaping, modern Morocco.”

Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com

Share
Duchess of Sussex visit leads to first international donations for sex workers charity
Filed in Charities News

Duchess of Sussex visit leads to first international donations for sex workers charity

Until recently the Bristol-based project One25 had been a little-known charity quietly trying to improve the lives of vulnerable sex workers.

But now, following a visit by the Duchess of Sussex, it has found fame across the world, even receiving its first ever donations from overseas.

In an example of what is being called ‘the Meghan effect’ the charity has been sent hundreds of pounds from donors in the US, New Zealand and Jamaica. Donations have also come in from Switzerland and Canada.

Photographs of the Duchess touring the project – and writing messages of support for the sex workers on bananas included in food parcels for them – were seen around the world, leading to One25’s website receiving a surge in visits, with thousands more logging on to read about their work.

As a result of media coverage of the Duchess’s visit others also sent in items for distribution to sex-workers operating on the street, such as umbrellas, socks and gloves

Anna Smith, the charity’s chief executive, said: “The upsurge in interest in our work as a result of Meghan’s visit has been incredible. We’ve had our first donations from overseas. There’s been lots of interest from America, but also from other countries.” Continue reading Duchess of Sussex visit leads to first international donations for sex workers charity

Share