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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/

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Duchess Meghan and the Women of the Hubb Kitchen Are Helping Feed Hungry Families in London

When Duchess Meghan helped a group of women impacted by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire to launch their own cookbook in 2018, it empowered them to begin a lifetime of community-focused initiatives of their own. “Watching you all keep the momentum going has made me so proud,” she told them during a January visit.

And now, following a request from the Duchess of Sussex, the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in London have launched a new service to help families struggling during the coronavirus lockdown. Starting Monday, the group of more than 17 women will begin batch-cooking 250 to 300 nutritious meals a day, three days a week, from their own homes.

“The spirit of the Hubb Community Kitchen has always been one of caring, giving back, and helping those in need, initially in Grenfell and now throughout the U.K.,” Meghan said in a statement shared with BAZAAR.com. “A home-cooked meal from one neighbor to another, when they need it most, is what community is all about.”

She adds, “I’m so proud of the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, and the continued support the Felix Project gives them to carry out these acts of goodwill, which at this moment in time are urgently needed.”

The initiative has also received support from another charity close to the Sussexes. When Prince Harry spent time with the sports charity Street Games last February, he saw the potential for the women of the Hubb kitchen to collaborate with their “Fit and Fed” initiative, which tackles the holiday gap of hunger, inactivity, and isolation that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds often faced. Now, a network of volunteers from the charity will help deliver meals cooked by the Hubb women to the doorsteps of vulnerable Londoners.

Food redistribution charity The Felix Project, which has already launched an emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis, is also supporting efforts by supplying surplus produce collected from wholesalers, restaurants, and supermarkets. More than 175 crates of food (the equivalent of almost 5,000 meals) have already been donated to the group.

Continue reading Duchess Meghan and the Women of the Hubb Kitchen Are Helping Feed Hungry Families in London

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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Deliver Meals to People with Life-Threatening Illnesses in Los Angeles

When Dan Tyrell received a delivery of prepared meals from Project Angel Food for himself and neighbor Becky Lincoln, who has type 1 diabetes, on Wednesday, he thought he recognized the masked volunteers dropping off the food. “I thought that tall red-headed guy looked pretty familiar, and that girl was pretty,” the West Hollywood local commented.

Moments later, after a glimpse of the nearby security guards and black SUVs, it clicked: The couple standing at his Los Angeles apartment complex was none other than Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. BAZAAR.com understands that the couple have spent two days this past week volunteering with Project Angel Food, an outreach program that is now busier than ever delivering meals to at-risk people with life-threatening illnesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first worked with the nonprofit organization on Easter Sunday, April 12, when they took to the roads to help deliver a week’s worth of prepared meals and emergency kits with nonperishables to dozens of people too sick to shop and cook for themselves.

“They told us they heard our drivers were overloaded and wanted to volunteer to lighten the drivers’ workload,” Project Angel Food’s executive director, Richard Ayoub, told WEHOville, a local news site serving the West Hollywood community. “It’s really, really amazing. We loved having them and they are the most down-to-earth people.”

The couple, who a source says “were properly distanced and followed all of the organization’s strong protective guidelines,” made more than 20 deliveries on April 15. Harry and Meghan were eager to volunteer after hearing how the charity—which is currently accepting donations—has been struggling to keep up with increase in demand due to the COVID-19 crisis. In the past month alone, Project Angel Food has seen more than 400 new people sign up to receive services.

A source close to the Sussexes tells BAZAAR.com, “In many places, volunteers—which are needed now more than ever—are serving incredibly long hours to support others. The couple is grateful for all of those volunteers, and inspired by the frontline workers, essential workers, and people everywhere who are committed to responding to needs of their communities in this crisis.”

Project Angel Food was founded during the height of the AIDS crisis in 1989 to provide food and connection to those suffering with the disease and living in fear. Since then, the organization has gone on to serve millions of people suffering from a wide range of life-threatening illnesses. The nonprofit currently cooks and delivers more than 600,000 nutritious meals a year in the Los Angeles County area.

Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com

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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Give Their New Nonprofit A Name
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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
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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.
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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

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Meghan Markle To Voice ‘Elephant’ Documentary For Disney+
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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

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

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Queen Elizabeth Reveals Conclusion to Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Royal Exit for ‘Peaceful New Life’
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Queen Elizabeth Reveals Conclusion to Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Royal Exit for ‘Peaceful New Life’

Queen Elizabeth is providing the results of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down as senior members of the royal family.

After a royal family summit on Monday, which saw the monarch, 93, Prince Charles, Prince William and Harry convene at the Queen’s Sandringham estate, Queen Elizabeth revealed the conclusions to

“Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family,” the monarch said in a statement on Saturday.

“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family,” the statement read. “It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”

The new change will take effect in Spring 2020, according to a separate statement from Buckingham Palace.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments,” the statement said.

“They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty,” the statement continued.

“The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home. Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly- funded security,” the statement concluded.

The Queen previously shared a rare and emotional statement following the royal family’s 90-minute discussion on Monday, revealing that while she would have preferred to have the couple remain senior working royals, she supports her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family,” the Queen said in a statement. “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”

Palace sources told PEOPLE that the Queen ordered Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles to meet at her country home on Monday in order to “talk things through.”

Though it was previously reported that the Duchess of Sussex would join the meeting via phone from Canada, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Tuesday that Meghan and Harry ultimately decided that it “wasn’t necessary” for her to do so.

An insider told PEOPLE that Meghan and Harry’s decision left senior royals “hurt” and “deeply disappointed.”

While a rift developed between Prince Harry and Prince William, stemming from a conversation where William warned his younger brother against things moving too fast with Meghan, many imagined the siblings working “shoulder-to-shoulder” as they got older, a source tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. However, that proved to be more complex in reality.

“When Meghan came around and she was interested in making changes, he welcomed it,” says a friend. When Archie was born, the couple’s focus shifted even more to “doing what’s right for their family,” adds another friend.

Though the particulars are still being worked out, Meghan and Harry want to focus on “their own causes with a little less constraint and still be supporting the institution and the monarch,” says a friend.

Source: https://people.com

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Duchess Meghan Discusses Gender Equality and Violence Against Indigenous Women During Vancouver Charity Visit
Filed in Charities News

Duchess Meghan Discusses Gender Equality and Violence Against Indigenous Women During Vancouver Charity Visit

With the Sussexes continuing to be a trending topic around the world, Duchess Meghan is making sure that the spotlight remains firmly fixed on what matters most—their work.

The Duchess of Sussex began a series of visits to community-focused women’s charities close to the couple’s temporary Vancouver Island home this week, stopping by at an organization that has spent the past 21 years promoting rights and equality for young girls.

Justice For Girls was one of a few visits made by Meghan to local charities and organizations in Vancouver on Tuesday, January 14, after a Sussex aide reached out to share that the duchess finds their work “credible and compelling” and was eager to learn more.

Over tea (and note taking), Meghan spent an hour listening to stories from staff at the non-profit organization and spoke to the group about her commitment to advancing gender equity and other women’s issues. “We were very moved by the duchess visiting us despite terrible weather conditions in Vancouver and her very recent arrival,” co-director Zoe Craig-Sparrow tells BAZAAR.com. “We were struck by how engaged and informed she was on the issues we discussed, and how quickly and gracefully she put us at ease.”

“She was well-informed about the rights of girls and women and the need to challenge social inequality in a way that is holistic and global,” adds Craig-Sparrow. “Some of the issues we talked about included violence against girls; poverty and how it impacts access to education; girls’ rights in relation to the environment; leadership globally on issues of social and environmental justice; parallels between the struggles of girls in Canada with girls around the world; the need to approach social change in a holistic [and] integrated way, and how our proposed Justice for Girls Center aims to do just that.”

One of the key topics discussed during the meeting was Canada’s current and ongoing epidemic of violence against Indigenous girls and women, which has seen over 4,000 Indigenous women murdered or go missing across the country in the past 30 years. “This work is critically important in Canada where the impacts of colonization continue to harm indigenous girls and women through epidemic violence, social and economic inequality, environmental racism and denial of the rights of Indigenous peoples,” explains Craig-Sparrow, who was born and raised on Vancouver’s only First Nations band government, the Musqueam Indian Band.

Founded in 1999, Justice For Girls was created to address the needs and vulnerabilities of girls, particularly in relation to homelessness, poverty, and violence. As the charity underlines, true equality can only exist once these issues have been eliminated.

On the same day, Meghan also paid a visit to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, which provides a safe space offering everything from meals to internet access to women and children in one of Vancouver’s poorest areas.

For the the women working at Justice For Girls, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s plans to spend substantial time in the region makes for an exciting time. Says Craig-Sparrow, “[Meghan] will bring her commitment and intelligence to the issues she cares about, especially the rights of women and girls, and will use her position to help.”

Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com

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