Page 36 - People (February 2020)

Blustery winds blew

and a steady snow fell

on Vancouver Island

Jan.14, but they

didn’t stop Meghan

Markle from boarding

a seaplane and
Post-Royal
Work
“We were
making the 30-minute flight to Vancouver. impressed by
When she arrived at Justice for Girls, a Canadi- her level of
an nonprofit that promotes equality and health for knowledge and
understanding
teens living in poverty, she was greeted with a hot of the issues,”
mug of mint tea (her favorite) and a group of very says Zoe
excited women who were surprised she had made Craig-Sparrow
of Justice for
the journey in a snowstorm. “She was determined Girls (right, said it was important for her to get to know the local
to come, and we were really honored by that,” says with Meghan). context around the issues in the communities.”
Annabel Webb, the group’s cofounder. During the “She was very For Meghan, 38, and husband Prince Har-
gracious.”
90-minute visit, as the group talked about every- ry, 35, these communities are now home. Since
thing from female leadership skills to the rights announcing their departure from royal duty on
of indigenous women, Meghan “was listening in- Jan. 8, the couple has begun to write a bold new
tently,” says Webb. And as they wrapped, the group chapter—one in which “engagements” are casu-
gifted her with a gold-and-diamond whale tail pen- al and unannounced, free time is spent hiking in

dant that had been donated by local jeweler Hol- the woods near their Vancouver Island home with
lie Bartlett, a member of the Haisla tribe. “We all 9-month-old son Archie, and the rules governing
felt at ease, and I think that was a testament to the their old life no longer apply. “This decision [to
duchess,” adds codirector Zoe Craig-Sparrow. “She leave] had been weighing on them for a long time,

Meghan’s SUPPORT Squad

Janina Misha Abigail Oprah Jessica Markus Heather SHUTTERSTOCK; J. COUNTESS/GETTY IMAGES; SONIA RECCHIA/GETTY IMAGES; GP IMAGES/WIREIMAGE BOTTOM, FROM LEFT: AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY IMAGES; JAMIE MCCARTHY/GETTY IMAGES; ANDREW H. WALKER/
Gavankar Nonoo Spencer Winfrey Mulroney Anderson Dorak
Meghan’s friend The designer Meghan’s “I care about The Toronto- The Soho Meghan
for almost two is pregnant and former Suits them both and based House has praised
decades, the bonding over costar joined support whatever stylist stayed consultant the Pilates
Morning Show motherhood the couple for a decisions they with Archie was by friend Platinum
star took the with Meghan. New Year’s Day make for their when Meghan Meghan’s side founder for
family photo “As with all hike. “It’s just family,” says and Harry at her first her “inner
Meghan and friendships, so wonderful to the media mogul, traveled to appearance calm,” “quiet
Harry used you share see her so happy who attended the U.K. to with Harry, at confidence”
for their 2019 lots of tips,” and in love,” the royal announce their the Invictus and “natural
holiday card. she says. she has said. wedding. royal exit. Games in 2017. beauty.”

38 February 17, 2020