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Meghan Markle makes first appearance since 'Megxit'

Meghan Markle  smiles as she visits Canada House
Meghan Markle pictured during her visit to Canada House on 7 January. Photo: Getty Images

Meghan Markle has made her first public appearance since the Sussexes stepped down as senior members of the royal family.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, visited the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, a women’s centre in a deprived area of Vancouver, yesterday.

The centre shared a photo of Meghan with women from the community in what looks like a kitchen.

The image, shared on their Facebook account, was captioned: “Look who we had tea with today!”.

The duchess wore a cream, knitted round-neck jumper by high-end label The Row together with brown Le Chameau Jameson Quilted Boots and jeans.

Facebook users commented on the image, praising the “down to earth” duchess, saying she looks “so natural, happy and in her element”.

One comment read, “Wonderful to see her stepping into purposeful and meaningful projects so quickly!”.

The centre, according to its website, is located in “neighbourhood [...] well-known within Vancouver and even across Canada for its disproportionate levels of poverty and extreme marginalisation”.

Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as members of the Royal Family attend events to mark the centenary of the RAF on July 10, 2018 in London, England.
Last week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they will be stepping back as senior members of the royal family. Photo: Getty Images

Duchess Meghan travelled to Victoria Harbour Airport in mainland Vancouver from Vancouver island via a sea plane, according to a report on Mail Online.

The publication reported that she has been staying in Mille Fleurs, a multi-million pound waterfront mansion near Victoria, British Columbia – the same location the Sussex family spent their six-week break over Christmas.

Earlier on Tuesday, Meghan was spotted boarding a seaplane on Vancouver Island, carrying a Cuyana tote bag and wearing a Barbour coat.

It is unclear whether Meghan had a pre-existing relationship with the centre. However, she has long been an advocate for women’s rights, previously working as a UN Women ambassador long before meeting Prince Harry.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex(L), is watched by Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex(R) as  she delivers a speech at the Youth Employment Services Hub in Tembisa township, Johannesburg, on October 2, 2019. - Meghan Markle is suing Britain's Mail On Sunday newspaper over the publication of a private letter, her husband Prince Harry has said, warning they had been forced to take action against "relentless propaganda".
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are working to become financially independent. Photo: Getty Images

The Duchess flew back to Vancouver last Thursday, to rejoin her eight-month-old son Archie who had stayed in the country following the family’s six-week break there.

Meghan’s dash back to Canada came just hours after both she and Prince Harry announced they would be stepping back as senior members of the royal family.

Prince Harry is expected to join Meghan and Archie later in the week and with reports that the couple have flown their two dogs to Canada, it’s looking likely they’ll spend much of their time in North America.

Words by Francesca Specter

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