Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for Afghan women as part of the Archewell Foundation’s Southern California Welcome Project. This occasion marks one of her various recent solo public appearances amidst potential professional alterations with her spouse, Prince Harry.
At the age of 43, Markle attended the small gathering at Our Place, an institution established by Shiza Shahid. The participants at the event engaged in sharing personal tales and cultural experiences while cooking traditional Afghan meals such as Ashak and Mantuu.
Via the Archewell Foundation, Markle shared 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 shone a spotlight on the continued work of Mina’s List since 2014, supporting 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 since 2021.
While Markle was hosting the dinner in California, Prince Harry, aged 40, was engaged in Invictus Games-related affairs in Vancouver, Canada. The pair have been noticeably attending separate events in recent times.
Despite their individual commitments, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex continue their mutual dedication to diverse causes. They recently jointly appeared in a video for Veterans Day, discussing the Archewell Foundation’s measures to safeguard children’s online safety.
The Archewell Foundation remains impactful across a range of initiatives. Recent achievements include offering 3,176 hours of trauma-informed mental health assistance in Turkey after an earthquake, supplying menstrual products and health education to 2,500 girls in Nigeria, and uniting 237 women through The Welcome Project.
Residing in Montecito, California, with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Markle has openly expressed her fondness for Thanksgiving celebrations. She revealed to Marie Claire magazine that the holiday is usually “pretty low-key” for her family, often involving her mother, Doria Ragland.
Future plans for Meghan and Harry include their attendance at the Invictus Games in Canada in February 2025. The Duchess hinted that their children, who typically steer clear of the spotlight, might also be in attendance.
