Meghan Markle has surprised everyone with a solidarity initiative that has touched the hearts of many. It is a touching Christmas dinner for Afghan women who are starting a new life in the United States.
In a recent conversation with Marie Claire magazine, the Duchess of Sussex shared her enthusiasm for this important gesture, which is part of the Archewell Foundation’s Welcome Project.
Harry and Meghan launched the Welcome Project in 2023 with the goal of supporting programs for women who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan. Currently, there are 11 branches of the Project in nine different states.
Meghan expressed her desire to bring as many people together as possible this time of year, as the holidays can evoke a great deal of emotional charge.
“From my standpoint, I think part of why we wanted to make sure we had this opportunity to all be together again—so many of us—right now is that as the holidays come up, and have already begun in many regards, it brings up so much emotion for people,” she commented during the dinner.
The Duchess went on to reflect on the feeling of homesickness that those who are away from home can experience:
“You miss home, you miss your country, and also can find comfort in the new community that you have here.” She also stressed her gratitude for being able to be part of that community, “I’m grateful that we are able to be a part of that community.”
Meghan also encouraged the women in attendance to share their stories, as she believes that doing so can drive the change they all yearn for.
“All of you have stories to tell, and the power of you telling them and sharing them with each other—with our broader community—is what will help propel the change that I think we all dream of.”
In her chat with Marie Claire, Meghan not only talked about her charitable initiative, but also shared details about how she celebrates Thanksgiving and prepares for the upcoming Christmas.
What is Meghan Markle’s Christmas like?
The Duchess, 43, mentioned, “I love the holidays,” and referred to her children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, saying that “every year it gets better.”
Meghan explained that at first, as a mother, she enjoyed simply having her children around, even though they didn’t quite understand what was going on.
However, now that they are a little older, she is excited to see the festivities.
“But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.”
With Thanksgiving coming up, her family is “always pretty low-key.”
Meghan mentioned that she loves having her mother, Doria Ragland, around. On Thanksgiving, she commented, “We’re always making sure we have something fun to do.”
Just like any other family, they enjoy a good meal and then have fun playing together.
“Every single holiday is a new adventure,” she added, stressing the importance of Archie and Lilibet experiencing the ‘magic’ of family traditions and the ‘great recipes’ that become meaningful memories.
For Christmas, Meghan revealed that the family has a tradition of leaving “carrots for the reindeer.”
Ultimately, these holidays are filled with love, joy, and a strong sense of community, which makes each year special for the royal family.
Meghan Markle hosted a heartfelt dinner for Afghan women resettling in the US through Archewell’s Welcome Project.
The organization has evacuated and resettled over 2,000 Afghan women leaders, aligning its mission with Archewell’s efforts to create long-term support systems. pic.twitter.com/83vAOWnZXO
— Feminegra (@feminegra) November 22, 2024