Meghan in Chicago... It looks like Meghan is in Chicago at the moment. A report from the Chicago Tribune reads: "Is Meghan Markle in or around Chicago right now? Looks like it. There’s this photo that apparently shows the Northwestern student-turned-actress-turned-royal-fiancee sporting what looks like a Sox cap landing at O'Hare International Airport, according to a source who provided it to the Tribune. Markle landed at the airport at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a second source, who also said that she will be leaving town early Sunday evening. Chicago police provided physical security for her but not an actual escort, the source said. The U.S. State Department likely would have taken her in agency vehicles to her hotel or wherever she was staying, the source added."
TMZ reports she's there to finalise her application for a UK visa:
Meghan's Mirror identified Meghan's bag as the Gucci Re(Belle) style. The £1,790 piece is available at Selfridges and in various colours and sizes at Gucci, Farfetch and Bergdorf Goodman.
Meghan's "unprecedented" Commonwealth role... Next week, the Royal family will take centre stage for what is set to be the largest summit ever held in Britain: the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Leaders from all the member countries are expected to gather in London and Windsor for a packed week full of events.They will come together to reaffirm common values, address the shared global challenges faced by all members, and agree how to work to create a better future for all Commonwealth citizens, particularly young people. As previously reported (kudos to terrific royal reporters Camilla Tominey and Roya Nikkhah) Meghan will join Harry for events focusing on young people and women's empowerment.
TMZ reports she's there to finalise her application for a UK visa:
'Meghan Markle was back in the States this week to take a major step in becoming a permanent UK citizen ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.
Eyewitnesses tell us Meghan attempted to be as incognito as possible -- with 4 bodyguards in tow -- when she entered the VFS Global UK Visa Application Centre Thursday in Chicago. We're told she was there to finalize her application for a UK visa.
The whole thing only took about 10 minutes, and the entire office was cleared for her. We're told she was friendly with the staff. As for her disguise -- shades and a White Sox cap to blend in with locals. The Chicago Tribune got a glimpse of her at O'Hare Airport.'
Meghan's Mirror identified Meghan's bag as the Gucci Re(Belle) style. The £1,790 piece is available at Selfridges and in various colours and sizes at Gucci, Farfetch and Bergdorf Goodman.
Meghan's "unprecedented" Commonwealth role... Next week, the Royal family will take centre stage for what is set to be the largest summit ever held in Britain: the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Leaders from all the member countries are expected to gather in London and Windsor for a packed week full of events.They will come together to reaffirm common values, address the shared global challenges faced by all members, and agree how to work to create a better future for all Commonwealth citizens, particularly young people. As previously reported (kudos to terrific royal reporters Camilla Tominey and Roya Nikkhah) Meghan will join Harry for events focusing on young people and women's empowerment.
Kensington Palace confirmed the following:
- Wednesday 18th April 2018 - Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle will attend a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
- Thursday 19th April 2018 - Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle will attend a CHOGM Women's Empowerment reception at the Royal Aeronautical Society, London.
Royal reporter Rebecca English described Meghan's participation pre-wedding as "quite unprecedented".
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| Rebecca English Mail Online Twitter Feed |
As we've discussed in recent months, the Commonwealth is going to be an important part of Harry and Meghan's work once married. We also discussed an official role for Prince Harry. I was very excited to see it officially announced today; the Prince will serve as President of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. This new youth charity, of which Her Majesty is also patron, provides a platform for young change-makers across the Commonwealth in the areas of education, sport, health and the environment. The QCT champions, funds and connects young leaders who are working hard to make a difference in the world. The platform shares their stories, gives them a platform to amplify their ideas and inspire others to join.
More from Roya Nikkah.
A week of Commonwealth events will close with a special concert entitled 'The Queen's Birthday Party' on Saturday 21 April at the Royal Albert Hall. The Queen's Commonwealth Trust is the major beneficiary of the concert, and to cement his new role Prince Harry will make a speech.
More on what to expect on the night:
'As previously announced, BBC One and BBC Radio 2 will broadcast a special concert in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's 92nd birthday on Saturday 21st April 2018, live from the Royal Albert Hall.
The concert, known as The Queen's Birthday Party, will be attended by Her Majesty and other members of the royal family. The BBC has brought together leading artists from around the Commonwealth, at the end of a week in which the UK has hosted 53 countries for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Alongside contemporary performances, there will be songs from classic musicals. Performers on the night will include Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Sting and Shaggy, Shawn Mendes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anne-Marie, Craig David and Donel Mangena.'
Will Meghan be there on the night? I asked Hello! royal reporter Emily Nash and she thinks so, as does reporter Roya Nikkhah, who described it as "quite likely".
It's going to be a historic week in Britain; I'm looking forward to seeing it all unfold.
Wedding Updates... During the week, Kensington Palace announced two royal wedding updates. Members of the public from around the United Kingdom have this week learned that they will be amongst the 2,640 people in the grounds of Windsor Castle on 19 May. The Palace said: "Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle have said they wanted their wedding day to be shaped to allow members of the public to feel part of the celebrations. As previously announced, the couple asked Lord Lieutenants to invite 1,200 people to join the celebrations, including young people who have shown strong leadership, and those who have served their communities."
These include Reuben Litherland, 14, from Derby. Reuben was born deaf and has started lunchtime lessons to teach sign language at school. He also works to raise the awareness of the Deaf community's need for better access to public services.
Pamela Anomneze, 52, from Haringey. Pamela is the manager of Studio 306 Collective CIC, a social enterprise that helps those recovering from mental health issues through the creative arts.
Philip Gillespie, 30, from Ballymena. Philip, who lost his right leg in an IED incident in Afghanistan, raises funds and awareness for ABF the Soldiers' Charity and has just taken part in Invictus Games UK Team Trials for rowing, swimming and archery.
More from the Express:
'Amelia Thompson said she was "speechless" when she found out she was being invited to Harry and Meghan's marriage next month. A year ago, she was among the crowds when the bomb went off in the foyer at Manchester Arena and suffered trauma as well as damaged vocal cords from screaming at the horror of what she was witnessing.
Since the attack, Amelia and her family have met others affected by the bombing through fundraising efforts, including a photo shoot.
The teenager said she asked her mother, Lisa Newton, whether she would forfeit her chance of going to the wedding in favour of their friend Sharon Goodman, whose 15-year-old granddaughter Olivia Campbell-Hardy was killed in the attack.'
Seven inspirational young people from the Diana Award were also chosen. The Diana Award was set up in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. Young people range from mentees who have been transformed through the Award's mentoring programme, teen campaigners against knife crime, FGM and domestic violence campaigners in London, an Anti-Bullying Ambassador who has spoken out about his experience of homophobic bullying, and a fifteen year old girl from Canada who has handmade thousands of blankets for people receiving cancer treatments and veterans living with PTSD.
No Official Guests to attend the Royal Wedding... In the following press release, Kensington Palace also confirmed there will be no official guests at the royal wedding, including Prime Minister Theresa May:
'It has been decided that an official list of political leaders – both UK and international - is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle's wedding,' says a Kensington Palace spokesman. 'Her Majesty's Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by the Royal Household.”
On foreign royalty attending the wedding, it will depend if they are friends of the couple. Nobody has been invited because of the position they hold.'
How to view the Royal Wedding... Whilst official details have not been announced yet, the Telegraph offered interesting insights into plans to televise the ceremony:
'Yes. The wedding will be televised live on networks around the world. A single pool camera will capture the nuptials so many channels will be able to broadcast it. However, no concrete television plans have been formerly announced yet.
In the UK, the BBC, Sky News and ITV are expected to cover the big day with big-name presenters anchoring the coverage. Broadcasters are also expected to offer live coverage of the day's events on mobile and online.
After the ceremony, there will also be footage of the newlyweds' carriage procession around Windsor. Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the event, lining the route along Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street, Kings Road and Albert Road.
It's highly unlikely that we'll catch a glimpse of the two wedding receptions. They are private events for guests only. '
BBC America shared a promo regarding their live coverage. Click here to view it.
Harry and Meghan's Engagement Photographer on a "deliciously in love" couple... It was fun to see an interview with Harry and Meghan's engagement photographer Alex Lubomirski who shared details from taking one of the most famous sets of engagement portraits of our time. He spoke to E! News about securing the commission: '"It was nutty. It was a very surreal end to the year because it came out of nowhere," explained the photographer, who trained with Mario Testino. "I think one of Meghan's friends saw me on Instagram that I was in England during the announcement of the engagement and I was told later that this person said to her, 'You should meet Alexi. He's great. You'd love him' and that was it."'
The photographer revealed he's invited to the wedding:
"It was one of the easiest, most joyful jobs because they were so deliciously in love," the Brit said of his first-time engagement shoot.
He also explained said the two made it easy because of how in love they were. The father of two explains that he told the pair, "Just be yourselves and I will take pictures of you."
Alexi also mentioned that he and his wife have indeed scored invites to the royal wedding, which is on May 19, but admitted he was not asked to photograph the royal wedding.'
Speaking about the controversy surrounding Meghan's Ralph & Russo gown, he added: "To be honest, we tried on a couple of different things and that was just one that she felt comfortable in, so we weren’t really thinking, ‘Is it nude?’ or anything. We just thought, 'Feel comfortable and let’s make some nice pictures."
Meghan's Everlane Tote Restocked... Meghan's much-loved cognac Everlane Day Market Tote is back in stock.
A Toast for Meghan... In our last post, Bluhare shared a link to a terrific piece by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, two wonderful ladies better known as the talented team behind Go Fug Yourself. I think they are just fantastic. You'll enjoy this piece by them, I promise! This Is The Rehearsal Dinner Toast Meghan Markle Deserves.