Today, we saw Meghan visiting Brinsworth House in Twickenham, southwest London, a residential nursing home run by the Royal Variety Charity.
The Royal Variety Charity has a considerable history of links with the Royal family. King George V, the Queen’s grandfather, was its first patron. Other Patrons over the years included His Majesty King George VI, The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II who remains their patron today. She became a patron in 1952. The charity was established back in 1908 and was called Variety Artistes’ Benevolent Fund. In 1971, the name was changed to Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund before being officially permitted in June 2015 to use the Royal Variety Charity’s title.
The charity aims to provide residential and nursing care for elderly entertainers at their base in Twickenham and those living in their own homes, of any age, living anywhere in the UK.
Aa video of Meghan arriving at Brinsworth House:
Last month, we also saw Meghan and Harry at the Royal Variety Show.
Brinsworth House accommodates up to 36 residents – all from the entertainment industry – who are cared for by a dedicated team of nurses and care assistants. Among famous entertainers who have been cared for at the residential home are Sir Norman Wisdom, Dame Thora Hird, and EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham.
During the visit to Brinsworth House, Meghan was introduced to Richard O’Sullivan, star of 1970s sitcoms Man About The House and Robin’s Nest, and Mona Hammond, who played Blossom Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Meghan was told that Mona won an OBE for championing black actors.
“Oh my goodness. That’s amazing,” she said.
Meghan then went on to greet Josephine Gordon, a retired West End theatre actress. The talk quickly moved to Meghan’s pregnancy.
“I’ve been reading about you in the papers,” Josephine said. Meghan looked down and patted her bump and answered: “I’m feeling very pregnant,”. Josephine the asked Meghan how she was feeling, and Meghan replied, “Very good” before asking: “Do you have kids?” “No I don’t, I had a career,” Josephine replied, before Meghan told her: “Yes… that I understand.”
During her visit Meghan spoke fluent Spanish to one resident and told the actors how she had visited a similar home for artists in Los Angeles many times, adding that it felt like they were all part of one big family.
More from Telegraph:
“Giles Cooper, Chairman of the Royal Variety Charity, said: “There’s a care home in LA that she [Meghan] used to visit and when she saw the video at the end of the Royal Variety Performance she said it reminded her of that. In LA it brought feelings of being amongst your own. She was very much at home with them and put a smile on their faces, but she was enjoying it as well. She mentioned the video – that was the key to it – it made her say ‘I want to go and see that’. It was the fact of being amongst entertainment people and actors.
She was so chatty with all of them. She made an effort to actually in every room to say hello to absolutely everyone.
It really made everyone’s day. It really brought smiles to their faces.”
Meghan then joined the residents around the piano in the dining room, where a professional performer led a rendition of festive classic It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. It marks her last official engagement before Christmas.
She also joined them for an arts and crafts session during the visit, making Christmas decorations with residents.
A closer look:
Meghan then unveiled a plaque marking her visit to the residential nursing home.
She also signed the visitors’ book
A nice video from the visit:
Meghan looked blooming beautiful today, and not just because of her blossoming baby bump!
Her floral print dress is the BROCK Collection Odilia dress from the Resort ’19 collection, which is described as “grey floral-print taffeta Odilia dress” That is “an apt reflection of Brock Collection’s romantic and ethereal mood for Resort 2019. Made in Italy, it’s tailored for a slim fit with a panelled bodice and coordinating pencil skirt, and features ruched cap sleeves to accentuate the square neckline”. The label has dressed many famous people including Margot Robbie, Lily James, Jennifer Lawrence, Gigi Hadid, Emma Stone, Suki Waterhouse, and Rihanna. So Meghan is in good company!
She styled it with a coat by the Canadian brand Soia & Kyo.
The Wilbur & Gussie Charlie Oyster bag – first seen a couple of days after her wedding when she attended the Garden Party celebrating Prince Charles’s 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace.
And her Aquazzura Deneuve bow pumps.
Finally; she accessorized with her Birks Petale diamond and gold earrings.
We will see both Meghan and Harry arriving at the Queen’s pre-Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace tomorrow – stay tuned!
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