The Duchess of Sussex has hosted a holiday dinner in Los Angeles for women who have resettled in the US from Afghanistan – and shared her plans for a ‘low-key’ Thanksgiving at her Californian home.
Meghan Markle, 43, joined the charity Mina’s List ahead of next Thursday’s holiday to cook traditional Afghan food.
Speaking to Marie Claire, the Duchess discussed the Archewell Foundation’s Welcome Project and shared insights into how she’ll celebrate the major US celebration with Prince Harry and their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
Admitting she loved the holiday season, the Duchess revealed that seeing it through the eyes of the King’s grandchildren made it increasingly special, saying ‘every year it gets better.’
Prince Harry’s wife also said she ‘can’t wait to see it through their lens every year.’
Meghan revealed that she’ll enjoy a typically ‘low-key’ Thanksgiving this year, saying she loves the fact her mother, Doria Ragland, lives close to the family in California, making it easy for them to get together.
The Duchess of Sussex created The Welcome Project in 2023 together with the Archewell Foundation, which she set up together with Prince Harry.
The Duchess told the magazine that she hoped the women would find a sense of community in the US, saying: “You miss home, you miss your country, and also can find comfort in the new community that you have here. I’m grateful that we are able to be a part of that community.’
The programme is supposed to create ‘a safe haven and inclusive environment for women who have recently resettled in the US from Afghanistan’, according to a press release by the Archewell Foundation.
Mina’s List, the foundation’s partner, brought together women and girls who prepared traditional Afghan food such as Ashak and Mantuu, both of which are a type of dumpling, with the Duchess.
Meghan has never hid her love of cooking up a storm for Thanksgiving.
In an unearthed post from The Tig archives, her now-defunct lifestyle blog, Meghan offered three of her own recipes for the holiday season to her loyal readers.
And, according to a 2014 Meghan, the menu will leave you ‘the King or Queen of happy bellies & full hearts.’
The recipes, which The Suits star admitted were given to her by ‘Clean Team’ Dr. Alejandro Junger & Dhru Purohit, included a delicious main, salad and healthy dessert.
The British Royal Family member, who married Prince Harry in May 2018, began the post by explaining that she ‘loves’ turkey, but sometimes it’s not always fitting for entertaining a small group.
‘I love a brined, stuffed and roasted turkey as much as anyone, but if you’re just cooking for two, maybe a smaller bird is more up your alley – and coupled with a beautiful side and a delicious dessert, you will be The King or Queen of happy bellies & full hearts,’ Meghan wrote in the introduction.
She called their recipes ‘gobble gobble good cooking,’ and even wrote that there’s no ‘carb coma aftermath’ to the dishes, since they’re ‘clean eats.’
The first recipe that Meghan highlighted was an oven roasted chicken breast complete with mushroom and leek gravy – a bit of a different take on a traditional turkey.
She writes that the recipe will serve two people, and it’s quite straightforward – all it takes is 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes in the oven.
To jazz up the chicken, the recipe called mostly for greens and garnishes like leeks, chopped thyme and chopped parsley.
‘Mushrooms have been shown to boost vitamin D levels, heighten immunity and make a delicious gravy when combined with sautéed leeks and fragrant herbs,’ Meghan wrote about the delicious main course.
‘This would make a great meal anytime of the year, but it’s also a wonderful alternative to a traditional Thanksgiving turkey, in case you didn’t get a free-range turkey this year,’ she added.
And, although Meghan’s blog is now dissolved, the mom-of-two is planning to get back into the lifestyle space with the launch of her brand American Riviera Orchard.
The company launched in March as she sent famous friends like Mindy Kaling and Kris Jenner jars of strawberry jam, but since then, the brand has seemingly gone silent.
The jam was delivered in an aesthetically pleasing bowl of vibrant Sicilian lemons.
However, Meghan has suffered several setbacks in her bid to trademark its name, and it’s unclear when its products will be brought to the public.
