Meghan Markle Makes First London Outing with Famous Friend Ahead of the Holidays
This was the first time Meghan Markle has stepped into London following her UK return.
Following their return to the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working hard to establish their base in the Duke’s homeland. While Harry has stepped out for high-profile events like the WellChild Awards 2026, Markle has kept a low profile, making only a few low-key outings with close friends. Continuing this pattern, Markle recently made her first London appearance following the family’s grand homecoming after six years in California. As expected, the Duchess of Sussex was meeting another famous friend for a cozy girls’ dinner: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who has known Markle for a few years now.
The two previously teamed up for an online conversation to celebrate International Day of the Girl back in October 2020. After the conversation with Markle and Harry, Malala took to X and shared, “Meghan and I are on the same page: we both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins. Thank you so much to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for sitting down with me to have an important conversation about the future of our world.” This time, the duo was spotted at Claridge's, the famed hotel in London's Mayfair district, seated together in a corner booth. They were even caught in the background of a TikTok video made by a group of fellow diners clinking wine glasses nearby.
Furthermore, the two were clearly locked in an engaging conversation. The social media user captioned their TikTok video, “POV: Claridge's decided to seat Meghan Markle and Malala in front of you.” Markle looked effortlessly chic in a fitted white turtleneck paired with accessories, while Yousafzai opted for a stylishly comfortable beige coat. With their understated looks, both women proved that you don’t need to go overboard to look fierce. Markle has stepped out for a solo outing to Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds, just outside of London, as well as a pub outing with Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi. She also visited The Falkland Arms pub with her husband, Harry, for a date night in the Cotswolds, where, according to sources, they received no royal treatment and were treated just like everyone else.
However, this outing with Yousafzai marked her first trip to London proper, according to HELLO!. With more outings likely to follow, ardent royal watchers can’t wait to see a more relaxed side of the Duchess of Sussex as she continues to settle in and get reacquainted with life in Britain. Beyond these public outings, the Duchess has been kept busy with work. Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, recently launched its holiday collection, which left her fans swooning. Alongside various gift options, the collection features a unique holiday advent calendar adorned with a photo of the Sussexes’ home in Montecito, California. It’s safe to say Markle is already counting down the days to Christmas!
