
Meghan Markle's mom Doria Ragland crossed the pond to support her cookbook launch
By Jessica Pollack
When Meghan Markle's mom Doria Ragland was spotted at Los Angeles International Airport this week, she was crossing the pond to London for the sweetest reason - to support her daughter's first solo charity project in person. Along with Prince Harry, the duo stepped out on Thursday (Sept. 20) to celebrate Together: Our Community Cookbook, a beautiful book that Meghan worked on with women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire - and for which she penned the foreword. Under a gorgeous tent on the grounds of Kensington Palace with farmhouse furniture and colourful blooms, the mother-daughter duo enjoyed recipes from the cookbook alongside guests.
WATCH: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex - and Doria Ragland - arrive at the launch event for Together: Our Community Cookbook. Megan is wearing a coat by @SmytheJackets, top by @TUXEBodywear and skirt by her friend @mishanonoo: pic.twitter.com/wyva7Y6SWB
— Emily Nash (@emynash) September 20, 2018
With Prince Harry and Doria standing by looking every inch the proud husband and mom, Meghan made a heartfelt speech to the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen. "I'm so privileged to know you," she said. “I’m so excited to see the projects you’re going to continue doing in your own community, the community at large, and also how you’re going to inspire people globally by sharing your stories and recipes.
VIDEO: Meghan talks through some of the dishes with women from Hubb as proud hubby and mum look on! via @Hannah_Furnesspic.twitter.com/USOixtAmZT
— Emily Nash (@emynash) September 20, 2018
"It's so impactful, we can see just in a few days along, and the book's not even out yet," she said with a giggle, "what you've been able to do!" Meghan continued, "That's a testament to what this means to people and I'm so proud of you." Doria was also brimming with emotion as she told attendees that she was "head over heels" proud of her daughter. "It's amazing, I'm just as excited as you are," she said as she gave each of the cooks a genuine hug. "I'm so glad I can put the face with the recipes," she added.
The group sat down to a lunch with women from the kitchen and people from the Royal Foundation and publisher that included potato fritters with coriander chutney, beef and aubergine casserole, coconut chicken curry and Russian semolina cake. As they were saying their goodbyes, Doria showed just where Meghan's feminism comes from, saying "The power of women, we make things happen." She continued, "We're curious, we say yes, we show up."
A lot of effort has gone into today’s launch. Anyone else feeling peckish?! pic.twitter.com/kCSEbsTxAe
— Emily Nash (@emynash) September 20, 2018
In her foreword, Meghan, 37, spoke about how much her mother's cooking made an impact on her life. "One of my own favourite meals is collard greens, black-eyed peas cornbread - a meal I would look forward to throughout my childhood" Meghan said before describing the mouthwatering nuances of the dish served on New Year's Day. "During my time at university in Chicago I would wait with bated breath to return to LA for the winter break and have a bowl of my mother's gumbo."
Doria clearly had an impact on her daughter's love of food, so it's wonderful that she was able to be there to celebrate how her little girl has turned that passion into a way to help others. And the pair looked as chic as they did happy, with Meghan clad in a royal blue coat by Smythe over a turtleneck bodysuit by TUXE Bodywear and a pleated skirt by her pal Misha Nonoo, while Doria looked elegant as ever in a beige sweater with coordinated trousers and a matching scarf draped over her shoulders.