Meghan Markle made a notable London appearance this week, stepping out for afternoon tea with Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Meghan and Malala meet at Claridge’s
The Duchess of Sussex and Yousafzai were seen together at Claridge’s in London’s Mayfair neighborhood on Oct. 7. A photo from the outing showed Meghan seated with the activist during their private tea.
The meeting drew attention because the two women have a previous connection through advocacy for girls’ education. Meghan and Prince Harry joined Malala for a virtual conversation in 2020 marking the International Day of the Girl.
A relatively rare London appearance
InStyle reported the outing on Oct. 8, describing it as a rare public appearance for Meghan in the city. The Duchess wore a neutral-toned look for the meeting and kept the outing relatively low-key.
Meghan has long included women’s rights and education among the causes she discusses publicly. Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014 after surviving an attack by the Taliban and continuing her campaign for girls’ access to education.
The pair share a history of advocacy
During their earlier conversation, Meghan and Harry discussed the effect the COVID-19 pandemic was having on education, particularly for girls around the world. The new London meeting suggests the relationship has continued beyond that public event.
Neither Meghan nor Malala announced a new joint project in connection with the tea, so the outing should not be interpreted as confirmation of a formal collaboration.
Still, the meeting brings together two internationally recognized figures whose public work has frequently touched on education, opportunity and women’s empowerment. It also gives royal watchers another glimpse of Meghan during a period when her public appearances in Britain have attracted significant attention.