Meghan Markle visits women’s centre in Canada in first public engagement since royal announcement

‘Look who we had tea with today!’ women’s centre writes on Facebook

The Duchess of Sussex has conducted her first public engagement since she and the Duke of Sussex announced their plans to step down as “senior” members of the royal family, visiting a women’s centre in Canada.

Following the couple’s announcement last week, it was reported that the duchess had flown back to Canada – where they spent Christmas – to be with their eight-month-old son Archie.

On Tuesday 14 January, a day after the Queen conducted talks at Sandringham about Meghan and Prince Harry’s future within the royal family, the duchess paid a visit to a women’s centre in the coastal city of Vancouver.

The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, which provides a “safe space for women and children” in the area, shared a photograph on Facebook taken during Meghan’s visit.

“Look who we had tea with today! The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community,” the organisation stated in the caption.

Several Facebook users praised the duchess for paying a visit to the centre, with one describing her as “down to earth”.

“She looks happy and relaxed, doing what she does best,” another remarked.

On Monday, the monarch was joined at her Sandringham estate by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex to discuss how Meghan and Prince Harry will “transition” into their new “progressive” royal roles.

Following their meeting, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen, which read: “Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.

“My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family.”

The statement added that while they would have preferred for Meghan and Prince Harry “to remain full-time working members of the royal family”, they understand the couple’s decision to take a step back.

“We respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family,” the Queen said.

While it was speculated that the duchess would join the discussions from Canada over the phone, a source later informed PA News Agency that she did not.

“In the end, the Sussexes decided that it wasn’t necessary for the duchess to join,” they stated.

Former actor Meghan lived in Canada for seven years while starring on American legal drama Suits.​