Meghan Markleis starting Thanksgiving early.
On Wednesday, Meghan visited the survivors of theGrenfell Tower tragedy in Londonat the community kitchen sheso publicly supportedin her first major role as a royal.
And the mom-to-be arrived to good news. Their fundraising book —Together: Our Community Cookbook, which became abestseller— is already making an astonishing difference.
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Meghan Markle.Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
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Now, instead of just two days a week, the Hubb Community Kitchen is open for seven. The kitchen is also now preparing 200 meals a day, which are delivered to local groups, including elderly people’s homes, homeless shelters and women’s refuges.
Meghan Markle visits Hubb Comunity Kitchen in November 2018.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Meghan Markle.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Meghan, 37, wanted to see how the funds from the cookbook are being put to good use — the kitchen has already been completely redesigned and re-fitted.
The new facilities provide “a safe and professional space for the women to cook, gather and run activities within their community,” Meghan’s office at Kensington Palace says.
Meghan told one group of women, “It starts from one idea and from this one idea starts so much. I’m so proud of you.”
She added, “It hasn’t been a year yet. From that standpoint, what you have achieved in that short space of time — it’s really exciting.”
Kitchen coordinator Zaheera Sufyaan told reporters that Meghan has visited the kitchen privately on several occasions and bonded with the women “really well.”
“She’s down to earth and she’s come and supported the project. She’s part of the group,” Sufyaan says of the Duchess of Sussex.
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Those involved in the kitchen are “very grateful” to Meghan for the spotlight she’s put on them.
“The women are very inspired, they have their own cuisines and recipes and everything’s brought together and made this project,” says Sufyaan.
Grandmother Intlak Alsaiegh, 62, who is the project manager for the over-55s at the Al Manaar center, described Meghan as “so simple and so welcoming” — and a natural with children.
Now that she’s a full-fledged member of the British royal family, somefans wondered if she was planning to ring in Thanksgiving at the palace.
Last year, Meghan celebrated the holiday with her mom,Doria Ragland, back in her hometown of Los Angeles, California. One year — and one royal title— later, the Duchess of Sussex is now across the pond for one of her favorite days of the year (the proof is in her turkey brining skills!).
There’s no official royal rule stating that she can’t observe the American holiday. And since Meghan made a point toincorporate several American touches into her royal weddingtoPrince Harryin May, it’s likely that the new royal will bring a little Thanksgiving flavor to their palace home.
She and Harry also don’t have any planned outings on the festive day — which frees her up for Thanksgiving Day preparations.
source: people.com
