**UPDATES 7 July – Please scroll down for updates to this post.
Hello and apologies for the long long delay in posting. There have been a few things happening behind the scenes here at What Meghan Wore which I’ll include in this post but first… What’s happening with Harry and Meghan these days?
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust In Conversation:
Fairness, Justice & Equal Rights
Today The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust shared on their social media accounts how the Duke and Duchess participated in a video conference last week with young leaders for a conversation on fairness, justice and equal rights as part of an ongoing series of youth-led discussions.
The event was hosted by Chrisann Jarrett, QCT Trustee and co-founder and co-CEO of We Belong and included Alicia Wallace, director of Equality Bahamas; Mike Omoniyi, founder and CEO of The Common Sense Network; and Abdullahi Alim who leads the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers network of emerging young leaders in Africa and the Middle East.
The conversation focused on why issues of injustice matter for us all today, the opportunity to come together to make a difference and the role young people play in driving systemic change for the better.
Harry and Meghan both shared their collective hope and optimism for a better future driven by young people and acknowledged the energy and commitment stemming from the rising generation of leaders.
From the QCT site, The Duke of Sussex —
“You are the next generation of leadership which this world so desperately needs as it goes through this healing process.”
“We can’t deny or ignore the fact that all of us have been educated to see the world differently. However, once you start to realise that there is that bias there, then you need to acknowledge it, you need to do the work to become more aware… so that you can help stand up for something that is so wrong and should not be acceptable in our society today.”
Each participant spoke about the importance of taking action in the moment, being solutions-oriented and keeping the momentum going, challenging people to go beyond social media, and urge the next generation of leaders to learn from those who have tried to address systemic issues before.
Meghan expressed how important it is for people to “know when to lead and know when to listen.” As well as focusing on specific actions and ideas for the future.
More from The Duchess —
“We’re going to have to be a little uncomfortable right now, because it’s only in pushing through that discomfort that we get to the other side of this and find the place where a high tide raises all ships. Equality does not put anyone on the back foot, it puts us all on the same footing – which is a fundamental human right.”
You can watch the full video conversation here:
7 July UPDATE: It seems there has been some confusion over Black Lives Matter Movement vs. The Black Lives Matter Foundation — Harry and Meghan are supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement, NOT the Foundation. The Foundation is something different from the Movement. You can read about their support of BLM Movement in the following articles:
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Sussex Royal and the Future of Archewell
Late last week, according to a report in Newsweek, Harry and Meghan have begun the process of dissolving Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I haven’t seen any further evidence of this nor have their been any official statements made confirming this information. I have been able to see some information on the foundation and while a few minor updates were made, nothing indicates it is dissolving at this time. However, this information could change in the coming days or weeks ahead.
It was also recently reported by the Telegraph that Harry and Meghan are now waiting until 2021 to announce details for their new charity, Archewell. Again, this was neither confirmed nor denied, so we will have to wait and see.
For the time being, the Sussexes continue to work behind the scenes on various social justice projects.
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Harry and Meghan Back ‘Stop Hate for Profit’ Campaign
According to a recent article from Harper’s Bazaar, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has confirmed that Harry and Meghan are backing the Stop Hate For Profit campaign. The campaign calls for a global boycott of Facebook advertising over the company’s repeated failure to address hateful and racist content as well as misinformation on the platform.
Per the article in Bazaar, the spokesperson said —
“For a long time, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been working on how to move the tech industry in a more humane direction–this includes their longstanding advocacy for supporting mental health in the social media era, which was a key focus of a visit they convened at Stanford University back in February, and is also fundamentally connected to what they are building into their new organization Archewell.”
“A common thread in these conversations was about how online platforms have created the conditions for hatred, bigotry, radicalism, and violence to grow and spread.”
Companies like Verizon, Unilever, Coca Cola, and Ben & Jerry’s have already joined the boycott and the company is said to have already lost $7 billion from loss of ad sales.
You can read Omid Scobie’s full article on Harper’s Bazaar site here.
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Meghan Speaks with Racist Hate Crime Victim
On July 1st the Duchess of Sussex made a personal phone call to Althea Bernstein, the young Black woman from Madison, Wisconsin, who was allegedly the victim of a horrifying racist hate crime, per the Wisconsin outlet Channel 3000.
Michael Johnson, the president of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, connected Ms. Bernstein with Meghan for a 40 minute phone call.
Michael Johnson told the publication —
“[Bernstein] and Meghan talked about the importance of self care and allowing herself to heal. And she applauded her for the way that she responded and pretty much said, ‘Hey Michael, give me her cellphone number. I want to stay in touch. And let me know when you want me to come back and talk to people in Wisconsin.'”
From Michael’s twitter account —
Meghan Markle is the real deal and we appreciate her at Boys & Girls Clubs! pic.twitter.com/YMT78Xv3LW
— Michael Johnson (@MJohnsonCEO) July 1, 2020
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Cooking and Conversation with Homeboy Industries Employees
Back on June 23rd, the Harry and Meghan spent the afternoon visiting with the homeboys and homegirls of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California.
The couple joined employees in the Homegirl Café and Homeboy Bakery for some conversation while preparing food for the organization’s Feed HOPE program. The program employs Homeboy clients who make and provide meals for food-insecure populations, seniors and foster-program youth across Los Angeles.
The company’s founder, Father Greg commented that —
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just ‘Harry and Meghan’ to the homies”. “They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the Bakery and Café. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality.”
Homeboy Industries has provided essential social services and resources to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated men and women for 32 years. The organization provides free services and programs including mental health counseling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery support, tattoo removal, job training, workforce development, and direct opportunities for employment through their ten social enterprise businesses. The Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Café are two of those enterprises.
Below Meghan and Harry help make pastries.
“It was remarkable to share our Feed HOPE program with Harry and Meghan,” said Mariana Henriquez, Director of Culinary Operations, and former client of the Homeboy program. “They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honored they took the time to see us, hear us and walk with us on our journey today. We will never forget it.”
If you would like to donate to Homeboy Industries you can visit their site here.
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A Letter of Thanks to StreetGames During Covid-19
“Absolutely delighted to have the support of Harry and Meghan – thanks so much for continuing to reach out to brilliant community organisations like the
@smpbrixton, Hubb Community Kitchen, and North Paddington Youth Club as they help families struggling during #Covid19” – @StreetGames Twitter
You may recall one of Harry and Meghan’s first visits as a couple to StreetGames, Cardiff, UK in January 2018. Our post on that is here.
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Meghan’s Powerful Message to the Class of 2020
In early June, Meghan recorded a powerful video message in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement for graduating students of her former high school, Immaculate Heart, Class of 2020.
In the video Meghan said,
“What is happening in our country and in our state and in our hometown of LA, has been absolutely devastating. I wasn’t sure what I could say to you. I wanted to say the right thing and I was really nervous that I wouldn’t, or it would get picked apart. And I realised the only wrong thing to say is to say nothing, because George Floyd’s life mattered, and Breonna Taylor’s life mattered and Philando Castile’s life mattered and Tamir Rice’s life mattered, and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know.”
The Duchess recalled the LA riots of 1992.
She continued —
“You are going to lead with love, you are going to lead with compassion, you are going to use your voice. You are going to use your voice in a stronger way than you’ve ever been able to because most of you are 18 or are going to turn 18 so you’re going to vote.”
“You are going to have empathy for those who don’t see the world through the same lens that you do because as diverse and vibrant and open-minded as I know that the teachings of the Immaculate Heart are, I know that you know that Black Lives Matter.”
The Duchess, said a spokesperson, “felt compelled to directly address what’s happening in this country right now around the killing of George Floyd––as well as what’s been happening over many, many years and many, many generations to countless other black Americans.”
“This is something incredibly personal to Meghan, especially given everything she has experienced. And as a couple it is, of course, very important. They are both feeling it, just like the rest of us.”
The video message sparked the return of an old video campaign that Meghan participated in for Erase the Hate – USA Network in 2012.
In the video, Meghan can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the words “I won’t stand for Racism” and begins the message by saying — “My name’s Meghan Markle and I’m here because I think it’s a really important campaign to be a part of. For me I think it really hits a personal note. I’m bi-racial, most people can’t tell what I’m mixed with and so much of my life has felt like being a fly on the wall. And so some of the slurs I’ve heard or the really offensive jokes, or the names, it’s just hit me in a really strong way. And, you know, a couple of years ago I heard someone call my mum the N word. So I think for me, beyond being personally affected by racism, just to see the landscape of what our country is like right now, certainly the world, and to want things to be better.”
Meghan continues — “Leaving LA was sort of like leaving this bubble where I was used to everything, and had been exposed to everything except for a closed mindedness that I experienced when I travelled outside of where I was from,” she says. “I think that in doing that it really opened my eyes to a mentality that still exists that I thought was backdated to the days of when my grandfather moved our family from Cleveland to LA, and they drove across the country and to stop and get food, whatever kind of place they were going to, and they had to go round the back to get food for the family. You know, I thought that was really isolated to those days that we were past, and sadly they’re not.”
“I am really proud of my heritage on both sides. I’m really proud of where I’ve come from and where I’m going. But yeah, I hope that by the time I have children that people are even more open-minded to how things are changing, and that having a mixed world is what it’s all about. I mean certainly it makes it a lot more beautiful and a lot more interesting.”
You can watch the full video of Meghan’s message below —
Erase the Hate 2012
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7 July UPDATE: The Duchess of Sussex will be joining the Girl Up 2020 Leadership Summit along with Michelle Obama, giving advice for global girls leaders virtually next week: July 13-15!
Girl Up is a global movement of empowered young women leaders who defend gender equality.
The three-day virtual Leadership Summit brings together “movers and changemakers from around the globe committed to gender equality”.
Youth age 13-25 can register for a free virtual ticket here. Adult advocates and supporters can also register to attended with limited access.
Other guests include actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, UN Goodwill Ambassador and Noble Peace Laureate Nadia Murad and actress Storm Reid to name a few.
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Hey! What’s Meghan Wearing…?
This is usually the part of the post where we talk about what Meghan wore. Unfortunately I really don’t have much to include on what the Duchess has worn over the past month or so in various video clips or images.
She has been seen wearing a lot of basic white, summery pieces. Whether it be a white crewneck t-shirt, white button down shirt, or a white cardigan sweater.
It’s very hard to identify specific pieces without good hi-res images to show us clear details of her clothing or jewelry. In some cases, if it’s a piece she has worn before, it’s easy to recognize and say, “Oh, she’s wearing such and such”. Really though, the focus lately has been on the messages, as it should be.
I can share with you that I think she wore her Misha Nonoo blue striped Husband shirt, $185, on a video conference call back in May.
As for a white button down shirt, she could be wearing any number of them that she owns.
This white linen Frank & Eileen shirt in the Barry style, $198, is a great piece to include in Summer wardrobes.
Meghan wore the ‘Eileen’ style from the brand while in Australia.
Misha Nonoo’s ‘Husband’ shirt, a style favorite of Meghan’s, is now available in linen, $185. The white cotton version of the shirt that Meghan has worn is also available, $185.
Misha Nonoo’s site indicates that 10% of this week’s sales are being donated to Black Girl Ventures – a culturally converging ecosystem igniting economic security, civic engagement, and hyperlocal infrastructure at the intersection of STEM education and entrepreneurship for Black and Brown woman-identifying founders, funders, and veterans.
I have one ID update on a pair of earrings Meghan was wearing during her visit back in January of this year to the Mayhew. (This is a great example of having a clearer, higher-resolution image to showing more details of an item Meghan is wearing.)
Originally thought to have been her Dean Davidson, the Duchess is wearing her Boh Runga Discologo stud earrings in 9ct gold with Feather Kiss design, $280.47 USD. She received the earrings as a gift while on the Royal Visit New Zealand 2018.
Thanks to Laura on Twitter for spotting those!
I still do not know the ID of her bracelet. The image isn’t quite clear enough to show those details.
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Finally, as promised… why all the ‘radio silence’ the past month or so since the last WMW post? Well, I’ve been super busy working my other job which is digital content and website management for a small business out of state. Our state (NJ) has begun to reopen, however, we’ve been proceeding with caution.
I’ve also been trying to work on site updates behind the scenes. I hope to, before the month is out, have a slightly new look up for What Meghan Wore with many updates. With the changes that Meghan and Harry have made, I felt it was time to change the site up a bit, still keeping the focus on fashion of course but also continuing to highlight the important work that the couple are doing and their future endeavors.
So stay tuned! I’d love to hear in the comments some ideas, suggestions, etc. that you might like to see here on WMW.
I hope you are all staying safe and healthy! – Susan C.
Amelie says
Thanks for all the updates! Obviously not much on Meghan’s fashion in these posts, whenever we’ve seen her in virtual Zoom calls, her clothing has been rather neutral which is typical of Meghan and nondescript. And that’s totally fine during these pandemic times, I doubt she really wants people discussing what she is wearing.
It’s nice to see all of Meghan and Harry’s causes/projects in one post with all their volunteering, meetings with young thought leaders/entrepreneurs etc. I’m so glad she has been comfortable speaking out about BLM as a woman of color. I’ve often wondered would she be allowed to be so vocal if she and Harry were still senior royals and given the BRF’s silence on the matter these last few months, my guess is probably not.
LadyLeah says
Susan C, this was a wonderful update – both on the Meghan front, and on what’s been keeping you busy. Thank you for letting us know…I had been wondering.
I loved reading about what Meghan has been working on and I appreciate having a cheerful corner of the interwebs where we can cheer her on and celebrate her work. (And enjoy her clothing and jewelry too!) I agree that while that’s what brought me to this site, it is her graciousness and her openness to use her platform as a force for good that keeps me coming back.
Looking forward to all her upcoming projects and to discussing it here.
Much love to the WMW community!
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Leah – thank you so much for your kind words! It means a lot. – Susan C.
Laura says
Hi Susan, it is so nice to hear from you again! Glad you are well, and hope you continue to stay that way now that you’re back to work. Take care!
Sg-chi says
Thanks for sticking with the site despite all the uncertainty. It’s been a rocky 2020 to say the least. Hopefully there will be a regular cadence to things once Archewell launches and the pandemic ends.
Deva says
What Meghan Wore is one of the sites I check daily so was delighted to see your post.
Thank you for all the updates/news.
Take care and be safe
JackieG says
Oh what a great post! I keep up with you more on IG now . Its just easy since I am there anyway, but I was so happy to get this notification . I loved this Zoom call . First of all the couple looked great. Harry has been looking so good since he went to LA. Secondly the interaction with the QCT leadership and members was just down to earth and real. This is what’s really needed today, this kind of real talk. I had no idea about the Homeboy Charity….thank you Harry and Meghan. Harry and Meghan are in their element and I say more power to them! Just hope they don’t get too busy to give us baby # 2. Can’t wait to see Archie again too.❤️
Jane says
Thank you so much for this informational post. I am reading on an iPad Mini and the San serif font that appears to be I;a medium gray is extremely difficult to read. Contrast it, for example, with the Instagram caption which is black. I have been thinking this since you began the blog, which I love and appreciate. Please rethink your font.
Thanks so much for listening.
WhatMeghanWore says
Hi Jane – thanks for your suggestion. I’ll be looking at this with the new template. Thanks, Susan