Welcome back! Meghan and Harry just went on their first public outing of the new year, paying a visit to Canada House in London to thank officials for their country’s hospitality during their winter break in Canada.
Ahead of Meghan and Harry’s visit to Canada House, they also made a private stop at the Hubb Community Kitchen, an organization of people who came together to cook after the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Photos from the visit were shared on their Instagram account and captioned:
“Earlier this week, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to visit the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen and ‘Together, Our Community Cookbook. These women came together in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy to cook meals for their families and neighbours who had been displaced from the fire. With funds from the successful cookbook, they have now been able to share their spirit of community with so many more. The Hubb continues to work with local organisations to build hope, bring comfort and provide not simply a warm meal, but with it, a sense of togetherness.
The Duke and Duchess were so happy to reconnect with the women and hear about the projects they continue to develop to help those in their community and beyond.”
Meghan and Harry were greeted at Canada House by Janice Charette, High Commissioner in Canada to the UK.
A video from their arrival:
People reported:
On the way into Canada House the couple met some of the employees who were standing outside. Harry asked them if they’d all had good holidays.
“He said it was raining a lot of the time in Vancouver,” says Jamie Weare, from Ontario — but one of her colleagues pointed out Harry laughed so he may have been joking.
“Meghan said it was beautiful,” Weare adds. “They seemed really relaxed and happy.”
Adds her colleague Sumira Osmin, “They are just beautiful and just their aura…they are always so positive and very friendly.”
Harry, Meghan and baby Archie spent Thanksgiving and Christmas on Vancouver Island, surrounded by close friends and mama Doria.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “They are enjoying sharing the warmth of the Canadian people and the beauty of the landscape with their young son.”
In fact, Meghan and Harry took some precious time out of their schedule to help a couple struggling to take a photo with a selfie stick during a hike on New Year’s Day in Vancouver Island’s Horth Hill Regional Park. The pair soon found themselves approached by Abigail Spencer Harry and Meghan.
Today reported:
“Iliya Pavlovic and Asymina Kantorowicz had packed a picnic lunch and hiked Vancouver Island’s Horth Hill Regional Park on Wednesday when they decided to take a nice photo together using their selfie stick.
“We were just finishing up (lunch) and I said ‘Let’s try taking a selfie, it’s a nice scenic backdrop,” Kantorowicz told TODAY on Thursday. She said they snapped a few photos and were looking at them on the phone when two dogs walked up to them. “We hear a woman approach us and ask if we’d like her to take our photo and we said yes right away,” she explained.
She noticed one of the women hiking with the group looked like “Suits” actress Abigail Spencer and just as she was about to dismiss that notion, she turned to the woman preparing to take her picture. “When I looked up, there’s Meghan smiling back at me, waiting for us to take this photo!” she laughed. “Then I looked over at the rest of the group, and there’s Prince Harry with another dog.” Kantorowicz said she made a joke about how they’d tried to take the picture unsuccessfully with a selfie stick.
“No pressure, Meghan,” Prince Harry joked, Kantorowicz said.
During their visit to Canada House, Meghan and Harry had tea and traditional Nanaimo bars (an unbaked sweet treat made of wafer, coconut, custard, and chocolate) with Janice Charette in the British Columbia Room, a nod to their time in Vancouver. They had a chat with Charette and the staff about their family break with Archie. “So beautiful,” Meghan said of British Columbia’s landscapes.
According to Charette, they also discussed “some of the common priorities and values shared by Canada and Their Royal Highnesses, such as a commitment to conservation and fighting the challenges of climate change, supporting the economic and democratic empowerment of women and girls, and encouraging young people and youth leaders in Canada and across the Commonwealth to actively engage in the social, economic, and environmental challenges of their generation.”
The Sussexes then walked to the building’s Canada Gallery to view an exhibition by an indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati. Her collection of art “addresses the country’s history, future and change from her own perspective—as an urban Mohawk woman and cyberpunk digital avatar.”
HarperBazaar reported:
She says of Harry and Meghan’s visit, “What I hope [the couple] get from seeing this exhibition is that not only have Indigenous people survived colonization and attempted genocide, but we have retained much of our languages and customs and are currently in the process of revitalizing them. It would be great if their Royal Highnesses could remember our long and complex relationship with the Crown, and consider how they can use their influence to play a role in this revitalization.”
Harry and Meghan then posed for a photo with staff, and chatted to them about their love of Canada. “Anyone here from British Colombia?” Harry asked.
A few hands in the crowd went up and he said: “What a beautiful place you live in”. He then continued thanking the group, before adding jokingly: “Not that you had anything much to do with it! But the warmth and hospitality we were shown while there was unbelievable, and that’s exactly why we chose to go out there”.
Meghan added: “To see Archie go ‘ahhh’ when you walk by and just see how stunning it is – so it meant a lot to us.”
“That was exactly why we chose Canada. My wife will now finish in French,” Harry joked to laughs.
The group photo:
Meghan returned to royal duties just in time as we needed some wintry style inspiration! Fortunately, Meghan delivered with this stunning ensemble!
To keep the cold at bay, she wore the sable coat from Reiss. Seriously, how does she make it look so effortless?
Meghan wore the Satin Midi Skirt from Massimo Dutti and a Plain Silk Wool Sweater from the same brand.
The Duchess wore her Jimmy Choo Romy velvet pumps.
She accessorised with a Kismet by Milka full circles bracelet and a pair of Catherine Zoraida Swallow Stud earrings
So happy to see them again!
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It is so beautiful to see them out and about and I’m sure, they will do a lot of good things the year ahead. I do admire them,because they are so natural