Meghan Markle Meets Her 'Ladies' in Nottingham — and It’s a Reunion for the Books
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were out in Nottingham for their first joint engagement after returning to the UK.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are on a nostalgic trip down memory lane with their unexpected joint appearance in Nottingham. For the couple, this marks a significant return to the charitable roots they nurtured in 2017. The Sussexes enjoyed a huge reception during their first stop at the CRS earlier today. They then proceeded to the Himmah Food Bank Hub, where Markle was warmly welcomed by women she had previously collaborated with while serving as a royal.
The Sussexes' stop at the Himmah Hub became “meaningful” when Markle reunited with Leila Hedjem, Faiza Hayani Bellili, Intlak Alsaiegh and Dayo Gilmour. These women had come together to cook for their community following the Grenfell Tower fire back in 2018. They had also collaborated with the Duchess on a special cookbook titled Together: Our Community Cookbook.
Markle's reaction upon reuniting with the group was been priceless. "I want to meet all of you; it smells amazing, but I have to go see my ladies first!" The Sussexes left the community with their hearts and bellies full. When asked about their experience, Harry said: "It's great to be back. Wonderful and great to be back in Nottingham too."
And Markle, who was quizzed about meeting her group of friends in Himmah's kitchen, said: "It was really, really meaningful. Thank you for asking," the BBC reported.
Hedjem highlighted the kind of relationship they shared. “We feel very protective of her. We absolutely love her. You know, we've seen her. She’s warm, she's kind, she's naturally... a giver. We had a nice bond with her.” She added about cooking alongside Markle for the cookbook, “It's bringing people together; it's sharing food. Food definitely brings people together.”
Alsaiegh added, “We are very excited to see her again. When she comes, she is like us among us…She supported us a lot; she opened a lot of doors for us to do our business.” In a rare instance, the Sussexes donned aprons to assist in cooking a West African dish with a Himmah chef. Following the cooking session, they joined approximately 50 supporters of Himmah, the Hubb Community Kitchen, and a youth violence support initiative for lunch.
The book contributed approximately $13,000 (£10,000) in donations to the cause from 2021 sales proceeds. The atmosphere was emotionally charged as the women revealed they had been in touch with the Duchess through WhatsApp.
