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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have officially returned to their royal duties this week, following six weeks on Vancouver Island in Canada over the festive season.
Paying a visit to Canada’s High Commission, known as Canada House, in London on Tuesday, the couple met with High Commissioner Janice Charette to discuss shared causes such as tackling climate change and gender equality and to thank staff for the “warmth and hospitality” shown to them during their trip to the British Columbia province.
Looking refreshed and relaxed, Duchess Meghan looked radiant in a brown monochrome ensemble, which included a toffee wool sweater and brown satin midi skirt by Massimo Dutti, matching velvet heels and a camel coat by Reiss, while Prince Harry smiled alongside her in a dark blue suit and light blue patterned tie.
Meghan and Harry looked happy and relaxed during their first engagement of the year. (Image: Getty)
When posing for a group photo with staff from Canada House, Harry reportedly asked the diplomats on the stairway whether any of them were from British Columbia, to which a few shouted “yes”.
“What a wonderful place you live,” Harry told them.
“Thank you so much for having us – not that any of you had anything much to do with it,” he joked.
Adding, “But the warmth and hospitality that we were shown while there was unbelievable, and that’s exactly why we chose to go there. So thank you.”
Harry and Meghan clearly had a wonderful break in Canada, saying they’re incredibly grateful for the warm and hospitality they received during their time there. (Image: Getty)
Meghan also thanked them, saying being able to see how stunningly beautiful Canada was and to see how entranced eight-month-old Archie was with his surroundings “meant a lot to us,” she said.
During their visit, the couple also viewed a special exhibition in the Canada Gallery featuring work by Indigenous Canadian artist Skawennati. The exhibition addresses the country’s history, future and evolution from her perspective as an urban Indigenous woman.
Speaking to BAZAAR, High Commissioner Charette said they were “delighted Their Royal Highnesses were able to enjoy warm Canadian hospitality during their recent stay in Canada.”
Meghan and Harry viewed an exhibition by Indigenous Canadian Skawennati during their visit. (Image: Getty)
Ahead of their visit, Meghan also made a private visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen in west London to “check in” and wish the group a happy New Year.
Meghan’s collaboration with Hubb Kitchen was one of her very first charitable endeavours as a member of the royal family. Hubb Kitchen was created as a communal kitchen to support victims of the Grenfell fire tragedy of 2017, with Meghan collaborating with the community to create a cookbook, with all proceeds going back to the community.
Titled Together: Our Community Cookbook, Duchess Meghan helped release the book in September 2018, filled with more than 50 recipes from women of the community as well as t.heir remarkable stories.
The book was a success, making the New York Times Bestseller List and The Sunday Times Booklist that same year.
In December last year, the Sussexes chose to highlight the community kitchen on their Instagram account, explaining the women are still making a positive impact in their community and across the UK and the world.
“Whether it’s providing a safe space for women and children to come for a hot meal, supporting local schools, serving free lunches to senior citizens, partnering with Red Cross to provide lunches for refugees, or feeding the homeless – the Hubb helps and heals through their support and sustenance,” they wrote in an Instagram post.
It was also recently revealed Grammy Award-winning singer Adele had paid visits to the communal kitchen at the Al Manaar Centre at the same time as Harry and Meghan when a photo taken at the time was uploaded, showing the three famous faces laughing with members of the community.
