Meghan Markle's charity cookbook launch: All the best photos and moments

September 20, 2018

<a href="/tags/0/meghan-markle">Meghan Markle</a> couldn't help but smile from ear to ear as she launched her first solo charity project on Thursday (Sept. 20) with her mom, <a href="/tags/0/doria-ragland/">Doria Ragland</a>, and husband, <a href="/tags/0/prince-harry/">Prince Harry</a>, by her side. <em>Together: Our Community Cookbook</em>, which features a foreword by the royal, is the culmination of months of work with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, all of whom were affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. The beautiful luncheon celebrating the book's launch took place in a pretty tent on the grounds of Kensington Palace. <strong>Click through to see all the best photos and read about the most touching moments from the event</strong>...
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived to the luncheon with a surprise guest, Meghan's mom Doria Ragland! The royal has credited her mother for inspiring her foodie lifestyle, so today's luncheon was the perfect opportunity for the 62-year-old to make her royal engagement debut. The duchess even called out her mother's cooking in the foreword she penned for the charity cookbook, writing, "One of my own favourite meals is collard greens, black-eyed peas cornbread - a meal I would look forward to throughout my childhood."
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The Duchess of Sussex looked fall-ready in a royal blue overcoat by one of her favourite Canadian labels, SMYTHE. She later took off her coat to reveal a simple black turtleneck by LUXE and pleated skirt by close friend Misha Nonoo.
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The recipes in the cookbook stem from a dozen different cultures and celebrate the way that food helps people to connect and heal. “I felt, on a personal level, so proud to live in a city that can have so much diversity," Meghan said in her three-minute speech, which she gave without anything in writing. “That there are 12 countries represented in this one small room is pretty outstanding.” Prince Harry, Meghan and Doria posed for a group photo with the women of the community kitchen.
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A heaping plate of green rice caught Doria's attention, according to Emily. The social worker exclaimed, "Oh I love that!" adding that it was "the first thing I asked about." Meghan joked that "everyone's just hungry" as she added fresh mint and olive oil to a dish.
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Meghan has clearly developed a beautiful relationship with the women who worked on the cookbook, who used food in such an inspiring way to help heal their community after the tragic Grenfell fire.
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The women from the Hubb Community Kitchen prepared a mouthwatering lunch for guests who hailed from the community, the Royal Foundation, the publisher and the Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. In the beautiful tent on the grounds of Meghan's home, Kensington Palace, they feasted on a menu that included potato fritters with coriander chutney, beef and aubergine casserole, coconut chicken curry and Russian semolina cake.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images

This is the 37-year-old's first solo charity project as a member of the Royal Family, and one that is so close to the foodie's heart. Meghan even said in a past interview with <a href="http://www.baystbull.com/say-hello-to-meghan-markle/" target="_blank">Bay Street Bull</a> that she could see her (now-shuttered) blog The Tig turning out a cookbook at some point. Little did she know, the cookbook she'd eventually produce would be so much more meaningful to her.
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In the foreword she penned for cookbook, Meghan explained why this project to help the women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire is so important. "Within the kitchen's walls, there exists not only the communal bond of togetherness through sharing food, but also a cultural diversity that creates what I would describe as a passport on the plate: the power of a meal to take you places you've never been, or transport you right back to where you came from," she said. "Through this charitable endeavour, the proceeds will allow the kitchen to thrive and keep the global spirit of community alive. With the support of dynamic women from all walks of life, we have come together with a united vision to empower other women to share their stories through food."
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According to HELLO! royal editor Emily Nash, the duchess said in her speech that the book was a "tremendous labour of love" and she felt so welcomed by the women of the kitchen. “I had just recently moved to London and I felt so immediately embraced by the women of the kitchen. Your warmth and your kindness, and also to be in this city and see in this one small room how multicultural it was."
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Meghan got right in there with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen cooking the lunch at Kensington Palace, though it looks like a little splatter almost got the best of her while cooking kofta!
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Meghan had a ball introducing her husband Harry and mom Doria to the women she's been working with since she moved to London at the beginning of the year. "I'm Meg's mum," Doria said, adding that she's "head over heels" proud of her daughter's accomplishment.
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Meghan shared a special moment with a little girl as the group clapped before she left the event.
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"I'm so privileged to know you," she said to the women of the kitchen. “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.
<p>"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."
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The former actress gave a heartfelt three-minute speech with no notes! Meghan spoke passionately about working with the women when she was new to London and discovering just how multicultural it is, plus all the efforts from so many people that brought this meaningful project to life.

"On a personal note I'm especially grateful because this is my first project so I appreciate your support for the vision that I had for this and seeing it come to fruition. And everyone behind the scenes: it truly took a village to see this through. Everyone embraced this so deeply because it's been a passion project for all of us and for very good reason. The power of food is more than just the meal itself, it is the story behind it. And when you get to know the story of the recipe, you get to know the person behind it. And that's what we're talking about in terms of coming together to really engage and talk. To be able to celebrate what connects us rather than what divides us, I believe, is the ethos of Together."

Prince Harry and his mother-in-law were brimming with pride, eyes a little misty, as they watched Meghan speek from her heart to officially launch the cookbook under the beautiful tent. Proceeds from the book benefit the Hubb Community Kitchen, so the women cooking at the event can keep sharing love through their food.
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There were no shortage of hugs at the celebration, and you know Prince Harry was keen to get in on that action! Just like his wife, the royal loves a good hug.
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The hugs were real!
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The Duchess of Sussex waved goodbye one last time to the group that meant so much to her as she, her surprise guest Doria and Prince Harry got into their Range Rover. <em>Together: Our Community Kitchen</em> is already topping book lists and is <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Together-Community-Cookbook-Hubb-Kitchen/dp/1984824082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537456344&sr=8-1&keywords=together+our+community+kitchen" target="_blank">available for pre-order on Amazon.ca</a>.
<p>Photo: © Getty Images