Meghan Markle was spotted dining with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai at Claridge’s in London on October 7. The outing marks the Duchess of Sussex’s first known public appearance in the capital since she and Prince Harry returned to live in Britain with their children in late August.
An Afternoon at Claridge’s
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, and Malala Yousafzai, 29, were seen together at the Mayfair hotel on Wednesday afternoon. The pair were captured in a video recorded by a fellow diner, which later circulated on social media platforms including TikTok and X. In the footage, the two women are shown seated at a corner table, engaged in conversation.
According to the Daily Mail, the Duchess wore an outfit valued at £28,000. Her ensemble included a £1,695 camel Tove Studio coat and £630 cashmere sweater by CO. She also wore cream Ralph Lauren trousers.
The afternoon gathering at the luxury hotel saw the two friends share a warm hug goodbye outside the foyer after enjoying afternoon tea at around 5pm. The meeting also marked Meghan’s first public appearance in central London since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022, following earlier public appearances at St Paul’s Cathedral for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Shared Advocacy for Girls’ Education
The meeting represents a reunion for the two, who first collaborated in October 2020. At that time, they joined forces for a virtual discussion to mark International Day of the Girl, focusing on the barriers to education for young women and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the 2020 virtual conversation, Prince Harry also joined in on the call to discuss educational access, noting that over 130 million girls were out of education prior to the pandemic. Meghan shared her perspective during the call, stating that when young girls have access to education, everyone wins and everyone succeeds, opening the door for societal success at the highest level. Harry added that while education is a privilege easily taken for granted, every single child and young person requires it, expressing worry over the wider effects that a lack of schooling has on families, communities, countries, and the world at large.
“Meghan and I are on the same page: we both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins. Thank you so much to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for sitting down with me to have an important conversation about the future of our world.”
Malala Yousafzai, via social media
While Townandcountrymag reported that the dinner was a personal catch-up between friends, neither party has publicly confirmed whether the meeting involved professional collaboration. Malala, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, continues to reside in Birmingham, where she was brought for treatment after being shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan in 2012.
Ravec May Reconsider Police Protection for the Sussexes
The sighting has reignited online discourse regarding the Sussexes’ security and their public presence in London.
Additional reporting highlighted that the committee overseeing royal and VIP protection, known as Ravec, is expected to reconsider police protection levels now that the couple and their two children are full-time residents. The family moved back to Britain from Montecito, California, on August 26, settling into life in the Cotswolds just in time for the start of the British school year so their children could attend a UK academy.
Prince Harry previously opened up about the family’s transatlantic return during an interview at the Invictus Spirit Awards, describing the move as “eventful” and stating that it is good to be back on British soil. Since returning, the couple has been spotted at various local spots, including the Falkland Arms pub on October 2.