Meghan Markle makes first non-royal appearance
Meghan Markle has made her first public appearance since she and Prince Harry sensationally decided to quit as fulltime royals, visiting two women’s charities in Vancouver as media reported she could face her father in court.
Harry and Meghan are in the middle of a storm after making their bombshell announcement last week — before they had discussed the plans with Queen Elizabeth II.
That followed Meghan launching legal action against The Mail on Sunday’s publishers in October after the tabloid printed a handwritten letter it had been shown by Thomas Markle.
The weekly newspaper has now issued its defence, leading to the possibility that Meghan and her father could be called to testify against each another.
A crisis summit at Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham country residence on Monday was missed by Meghan, who was in Canada where she and Harry plan to live part-time.
The Duchess of Sussex on Tuesday visited the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, a non-profit organisation that provides support to women fleeing violence, are homeless or living in poverty. Meghan met with the director and a handful of frontline staff to discuss the challenges women in the neighbourhood are facing.
“She was very interested in what goes on for women in this community, who we know are marginalised women who’ve faced many challenges and barriers to their wellbeing,” said Kate Gibson, the acting executive director of the centre.
The Vancouver-based nonprofit Justice for Girls also said Meghan had stopped by, tweeting photos on Wednesday of the duchess during her visit.
“Yesterday, The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle visited to discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of Indigenous peoples,” said the group, which helps teenage girls who live in poverty.
Final details on how Harry and Meghan’s new roles might work are due in the coming days. The prospect of a high court showdown only adds to the pressure on the couple.