Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently held a special Thanksgiving dinner for Afghan women through the Southern California Welcome Project under the Archewell Foundation. This marks one of her numerous solo appearances after reports of professional reshuffling with her spouse, Prince Harry.
Markle, aged 43, graced the exclusive gathering at Our Place, a foundation established by Shiza Shahid. During the event, attendees shared personal narratives and cultural experiences as they prepared traditional Afghan meals such as Ashak and Mantuu.
In a statement issued by the Archewell Foundation, Markle conveyed her gratitude for the event: “This initiative, led by the partner organization Mina’s List, has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan.”
The event underscored the ongoing efforts of Mina’s List since 2014 in working with female activists and political leaders in Afghanistan. The organization has facilitated the evacuation and resettlement of over 2,000 Afghan women and families through independent and coalition efforts beginning in 2021.
While Markle was hosting the dinner in California, Prince Harry, aged 40, was engaged with Invictus Games-related activities in Vancouver, Canada. The duo has been attending separate engagements with increased frequency in recent months.
Despite pursuing separate schedules, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue their joint commitment to numerous causes. They jointly featured in a recent Veterans Day video, discussing the Archewell Foundation’s initiatives to ensure children’s online safety.
The Archewell Foundation has consistently made a significant impact through various initiatives. Some recent accomplishments include providing 3,176 hours of trauma-informed mental health support for individuals in Turkey following an earthquake, distributing menstrual products and health education to 2,500 girls in Nigeria, and uniting 237 women through The Welcome Project.
The Duchess, who lives in Montecito, California, with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, has previously expressed her fondness for Thanksgiving celebrations. She revealed to Marie Claire magazine that the holiday is typically “pretty low-key” for their family, often involving her mother, Doria Ragland.
The Duke and Duchess are scheduled to attend the Invictus Games in Canada in February 2025. The Duchess hinted that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who usually stay away from the limelight, might also be in attendance.
