Meghan and Harry Reunite with Grenfell Community Cooks
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared an emotional reunion with women who helped support families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared an emotional reunion with four women who had cooked for grieving families in the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hugged and held hands with the women, referred to as the Grenfell 'ladies,' who helped provide meals to families devastated by the tragedy that claimed 72 lives. The reunion occurred during a visit to Himmah Hub, a food poverty charity in Nottingham.
Meghan has maintained a close relationship with these community cooks, having made private visits to them following the fire. Their efforts later inspired a community cookbook, championed by the duchess, with proceeds supporting their charitable work.
The couple was greeted by approximately 50 well-wishers upon their arrival at Himmah Hub, a former Methodist church converted into a center for those struggling with food poverty. The Sussexes appeared relaxed as they were welcomed by charity executives.
| Prince Harry visits the Himmah Hub in Nottingham.
Among those present were cooks Dayo Gilmour, Intlak Alsaiegh, Faiza Hayani Bellili, and Leila Hedjem, who were preparing dishes in the charity's kitchen. Meghan expressed her priority was to see her friends, stating, "I want to meet all of you, it smells amazing, but I have to go see my ladies first." She then embraced each woman individually before they shared a group hug.
During the emotional exchange, one of the women remarked, "it's been too long," to which Meghan replied, "at least five years." Prince Harry joined the reunion shortly after and was also warmly embraced.
| The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embraced the women who supported families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.
Meghan described the opportunity to catch up with the cooks as "really, really meaningful." This visit marked the couple's first joint public engagement in Britain since returning to live in the UK in August, six years after they stepped back as working members of the Royal Family.
| Meghan has maintained a close relationship with the community cooks.
The visit to Nottingham held particular significance as the city hosted their first official public appearance together after their engagement announcement in 2017. Meghan's involvement with the Hubb Community Kitchen began in 2018 when she helped produce "Together: Our Community Cookbook," one of her first solo charitable projects as a royal.
| Meghan packs a bag with food during her visit to the Himmah Hub.
The cookbook raised over $1 million for community initiatives, with its proceeds also supporting Himmah, including a £10,000 donation in 2021. During their visit, the duke and duchess also participated in cooking and met with volunteers aiding the charity's efforts against hunger and inequality.
| The kitchen brought together women from communities affected by the Grenfell disaster.
The couple's engagements in Nottingham also included visits to the Community Recording Studio, which assists disadvantaged young people, and Epic Partners, an organization providing mentoring, sports, and educational opportunities for children and families. Harry had previously donated £1.1 million to BBC Children in Need to support young people affected by violence after visiting the recording studio the previous year. Despite these public appearances, the Sussexes are no longer working members of the monarchy, having stepped down from their official duties in 2020.