I’ll be honest, when the Sussex family moved back to the UK, one of my biggest concerns was that the British media would easily track Prince Harry and Meghan’s movements on a daily level. My concern was justified because the British media went overboard for years, tracking flight numbers and travel routes and the number of cars in their convoys. I thought that was what it would be like for the Sussexes every damn day in the UK. I’ve been pleasantly surprised though, because that hasn’t happened. Just last night, Meghan popped up in London and the British media had no insider knowledge of it. We only know that Meghan was in London because she had dinner with Malala Yousafzai and someone inside the restaurant posted a TikTok.
Meghan Markle has been spotted in London for the first time since moving back to Britain.
The Duchess of Sussex, 45, met up with Malala Yousafzai, 29, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, PEOPLE confirms.
A photo shared on X shows the pair dining together at Claridge’s, the famed hotel in London’s Mayfair neighborhood.
The outing marks Meghan’s first known public sighting in London since she and Prince Harry moved back to Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, on Aug. 26.
Meghan and Malala have a history together. In October 2020, the Duchess and Prince Harry joined the Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate for a virtual conversation marking International Day of the Girl, discussing the importance of girls’ education.
“Meghan and I are on the same page: we both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins,” Malala shared following their 2020 conversation.
Imagine going to dinner with Malala at Claridge’s and someone posts a TikTok from inside the restaurant. Wow. I’m surprised this didn’t start with a Deuxmoi sighting. Anyway, I love that Meghan is catching up with Malala! Malala is married now, but they both decided to leave their husbands at home, good for them.
Updated to add the link to some photos of Malala and Meghan outside of Claridge’s. The Mail is predictably hyperventilating about Meghan wearing nice clothes.
Meghan steps into the limelight: Duchess wears £25,000 outfit for afternoon tea at Claridge’s with Malala Yousafzai https://t.co/69HmcLGCsy
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 8, 2026
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was seen dining out with Malala in London. Sans Prince Harry https://t.co/eJAuCjDlBy
— ℕ𝕠𝕠𝕣𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕞 | 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕖𝕣𝕘 | Zoënne (@NotSry2LoveDE) October 7, 2026
What ever they are working on, this is exciting ❤️
Meghan dining with Malala, I know “Girls & Women” topic will be the centre of this conversation 💃🏾💃🏾
I love it when strong women come together for a greater cause👏👏👏
#WomenSupportingWomen ❤️ https://t.co/O3iwNrWtfb— SK 💃🏾🕺 (@Rimmesfk) October 8, 2026
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images, Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com/Avalon, Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Avalon Red.
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- Paris, FRANCE Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was seen arriving at Sugaar restaurant in Paris, looking beautiful in an elegant black dress. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 4 OCTOBER 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: Best Image / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Malala Yousafzai, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi and Sahra Mani attend the Los Angeles premiere of Apple Original Films’ “Bread & Roses” at Hammer Museum on November 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 934757798, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Malala Yousafzai, Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi, Sahra M, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
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- New York, NY Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attend the Project Healthy Minds 3rd Annual Gala at Spring Studios in New York City. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 9 OCTOBER 2025 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA Meghan Markle was seen waving and sharing a laugh with Emma Grede while attending the 15 Percent Pledge gala, hosted by Aurora James, at the Paramount Studios backlot in Los Angeles. This year’s event was hosted by Abby Phillip and honored Tina Knowles for her contributions to culture, fashion, and advocacy. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 7 FEBRUARY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: Karl Larsen / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA Meghan Markle was seen waving and sharing a laugh with Emma Grede while attending the 15 Percent Pledge gala, hosted by Aurora James, at the Paramount Studios backlot in Los Angeles. This year’s event was hosted by Abby Phillip and honored Tina Knowles for her contributions to culture, fashion, and advocacy. Pictured: Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 7 FEBRUARY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: Karl Larsen / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Kering Foundation 2nd Annual Caring For Women Event Featuring: Malala Yousafzai, Asser Malik Where: New York, New York, United States When: 13 Sep 2023 Credit: Janet Mayer/startraksphoto.com
The rumors will start shortly about what project if any this duo will be working on. The gutter rats are restless, all the recycled relationship nonsense and apologies did not track, so they will start anew with this possibility. Hope if there is a renewed partnership it happens other than the UK.
I love it! I love Malala and power to the ladies for having an undercover girl dinner. Meanwhile on the Kensington palace agenda: an event with a reality star and red carpet with Tom Cruise and Heidi Klum. LOL
I hope they had a great time.
Love to see those two together.
And yeah I think a lot of people on here were worried that Meghan was just going to be holed up in their house in the Cotswolds and would never poke her head out and its clear that she’s still just living her life – Soho Farmhouse and pilates, pub lunches (note that while there were pictures of her at the pub last week, there were no leaked photos from the lunch/dinner with her friend), and now dinner at Claridges where the only pic/video is somewhat grainy – no shots of her coming or going, etc. It seems a lot like how she was living life in Montecito.
Yeah, she’s clearly not holed up. She seems to be living the same as she was in Montecito. Dinner with friends. No doubt working on asever and no production type stuff from home.
Claridge’s really needs to get that footage off the web. Their whole appeal to people is that they offer sanctuary & refuge …and *no one* will book tables in a room where some rando can pull out a phone & put your image on TikTok. Good god.
THIS. I wouldn’t book there, nor would I let any colleagues who value discretion do so. This one breach of privacy has cost them a lot of cachet in the “discreet dining” circles.
But as Tis True, Tis True said below, the people who made the video may find their attempts to book future tables futile.
The invasion of privacy is unfortunate, but positive in that it reinforces Meghan’s and Malala’s focus on empowering girls. It’s not like they « caught her » staggering dead drunk out of a private club, ahem WanK.
Claridges asks customers not to take photos…
https://www.maybourne.com/en/terms-conditions/restaurant-bars-terms-conditions
Yup.
I hope they had a nice time together but People Magazine is moving like a British tabloid. Plus no matter what the British press says Meghan had more privacy in the US.
Someone is about to be told “Sorry we have nothing available” when they call to book a table Thé whole point of à restaurant like that is discretion
Yup, and fortunately that person made it incredibly easy for the owners to find out exactly who it was.
I can’t lie; if I’d been in that position, it would have been really hard for me to not take one surreptitious pic. It would take superhuman willpower (but that’s because I genuinely love Meghan; I would NEVER put it online, and I sure as sh!t would never try to sell it to a gutter tabloid).
I do hate that she can’t go socialise without ending up on someone’s Tikok. She was able to go out and have dinners in Montecite for years, without being recorded inside the restaurant. Now she’s being recorded on a regular basis. Not even her phone number can remain private.
To be fair there were several times when Meghan was posted on deuxmoi because people had spotted & took pictures of her in a restaurant in Montecito. I can remember one with her agent Jill smoller & then when her and Harry were out with Tracey & Brian Robbins at a local spot.
And paps caught her when leaving local spots with Kimberly from father of the bride, when dining out with Clare Waight Gellar or when she was out with friends and Harry for her birthday.
But I just love their ability to move in silence generally & that somehow the press who apparently know all intimate details of Meghan & Harry’s lives – couldn’t report on this apparent meeting until this footage emerged.
This isn’t cool, this person should have had more self control and not posted about this.
Yet, I’m still like
🥰🥰🥰
Truly is awful that people don’t have more self restraint especially when they can see this isn’t a public engagement, but a private dinner.. I guess one good thing is they didn’t sell the footage to the fail.
The Wail has got loads of pictures from outside of them meeting.
So either the people in the restaurant who filmed her were part of the media or the Fail and others got news that Meghan would be at the restaurant (leaked by staff?) and planted people inside and staked out the outside. Should not be difficult to trace and plug that leak.
People in the US, even very poor ones, went out of their way to protect Meghan’s privacy, yet so-called “well-heeled” people have been repeatedly endangering her life by leaking her whereabouts for a few bucks since she arrived in the UK (how poverty-stricken and how ghetto -as my nephew would say- are these people???) while insisting that she does not need armed protection. May they reap what they have sown, many times over.
Remember how Meghan visited and worked with the ladies of Grenfell’s Hubb Community Kitchen for around 8 or 9 MONTHS before the wedding and not one of them leaked the information to the media, even though their families clearly knew about it? Those people, who have been looked down on and denigrated by many, have far more class in their little fingers than these videographers and photographers.
Its and exclusive in the mail so I assume that only they were there. Not sure how that happens?
Doesn’t it happen by someone tipping off the DM? And I’m not implying that Meghan did but I’d imagine someone did. I’d even imagine that the DM has people sit outside specific high profile spots all over London on the regular. So sure you could say that Meghan and Malala both were aware they would likely be seen and weren’t hiding but that’s not the same as Meghan calling and tipping off the Mail. The thing is many celebs call for pap walks sure and that makes people think that’s how it always happens. But no there are plenty of pap photos that still happen without it being a set-up despite everyone now jumping to that conclusion based on the fact that sure ofc some are. It doesn’t make every pap photo an arrangement bw a celebrity.
@Jais
Of course, there are plenty of people who call the media before even leaving the house—especially the less famous ones. Then there are those who won’t make a move without their own team of photographers and videographers—like Taylor Swift or the entire British Royal Family (especially William and Kate), though they often “create” photos without actually using a camera :))) because they control the material: selecting, retouching, and sending it out to friendly, paid-off media outlets.
There are also people whom photojournalists tail constantly; they set up camp near their homes and have paid informants in the city and at airports to tip them off whenever the celebrity appears.
The *Daily Mail* offered Meghan’s father a million pounds (or dollars) for private wedding photos of Harry and Meghan, and offered an actor—a friend of Meghan’s—70,000 to claim he’d slept with her; he refused the money and instead exposed the vile offer, adding that they had merely gone out to dinner once. As seen with the British moms who leaked Meghan’s phone number, or that group in the hotel restaurant, there is no shortage of repulsive people—the kind that are just like snot in your nose.
I’m so glad to see her connecting with people in the same vein as she has in the past, i hope this means there is a project in the works with a future release date. Good for her. On another note one could distance ones self and say it was the mum’s that lacked discretion but Claridges diners i bet they will be miffed when they take your phones at the door. are we going to get more of this, we didnt get this when they were in montecito. Brits should be ashamed
Sorry, I’m going to rant. Those arseholes who posted that video thought they were being clever, “just taking a group photo (video)”, but it’s clear that the main/sole purpose was to capture images of Meghan, by the way the woman who would have blocked the view of Meghan is perching weirdly on her chair to ensure the unobstructed vision. The prat holding the camera actually focussed on Meghan instead of on the people at his/her table who were pretending to be toasting each other – presumably as an excuse for holding up a camera/phone in the restaurant. I am not impressed. Her privacy is still being invaded, and I’m astonished that a place like Claridges would allow something like this. And some wonder why really wealthy people avoid certain establishments or choose to book private rooms when they dine out. I’d be surprised if she visits Claridges again.
Seems everyone in the UK is broke as hell and on the make, and Meghan is their guaranteed meal ticket. No wonder they keep whinging about the price of luxury chocolates and hampers and advent calendars. Ugh.
If the intent is not to be seen, you dine at a private members club. Claridge’s can be tourist destination in Mayfair. Anyone can book for tea in the Foyer & Reading Room and I’ve seen photos taken every time I’ve been. Generally, you should not be taking pictures of guests, which is why this group decided to try and be clever about it. There are more restaurants and dining rooms for privacy, but I expect both ladies did not worry too much about exposure. Malala also has Ravec level security, if I remember correctly.
Strong women get the foxy guys, evidently.
Yes, Malala’s husband is yum.
This is a bit stalkery but I love seeing Meghan and Malala just living & making the world better in their own ways.
So… Princess Meghan just popped up to London from the Cotswolds, and nobody knew she was on the move until she was already at her meet-up?
Is it just me, or does it seem like maybe the Sussexes have a better handle on their UK security than has been assumed by quite a few observers?
Mmhhhm 🎯
YankeeDoodles, totally correct. A hotel of their reputation should know by now how to protect famous patrons from this type of exploitation. Outrageous and unacceptable.
There are other places in Claridge’s if complete privacy is what you are looking for. This is a room where tourists go to experience the British style tea. They wouldn’t be pleased to see a group blatantly photographing other patrons, but they do allow pictures to be taken here. If you need total discretion, Claridge’s will make sure it happens, but not much to do about the situation now. These women are supporting each other while enjoying each other’s company. Both looked safe and well looked after.
I wonder if Meghan was carrying that tote because she also did a little shopping in London.
Anyway … if there are two famous people I’d love to dine with, Meghan and Malala would be it. Add Michelle Obama — the third M in a trifecta of fascinating and impactful women — and it would be a dream.
Glad Meghan feels safe enough to be out and about. Guessing her personal security was close by.
Yes! Adding Michelle Obama! Plus I need to know about that bag!
They both look great! These little glimpses of Meghan out and about in the UK are so reassuring. I imagine it must also be healing for her and a great testament to the power and control she and Harry now have over their lives.
Unpopular opinion: I think Meghan and also Malala knew that they were going to be seen in public together and they are ok with that. Meghan is very intentional who she is seen having lunch with when it signifies a shared purpose or collaboration. Like the time we saw her in NY with Gloria Steinhem. This is very different from the pub lunch with Ellen and Portia.
I love her wide legged pants, such a great autumn look with the cashmere coat.
If I was Meghan, I’d assume every time I left my house there’s a possibility that I might be seen.
@Jais, right? After this many years, Meghan knows the deal. And I’m glad it hasn’t kept her housebound.
And I’d imagine she knew that especially since she was in LDN.
Love Claridge’s….tacky AF that those people filmed them…
Once again, I am very glad that Meghan continues to live her life on her own terms.
I love how in the US when they moved about we found out after the fact. Love the UK people don’t care about filming her and selling the photos. As someone upstream said, Claridge is banning that whole group at the table for life. LOL
“Claridge is banning that whole group at the table for life.”
Really?! Or is it just wishful thinking on our part?
If so, it’s an absolutely right move—and a great one for the image—as well as a lesson for others tempted to behave so embarrassingly..!
Some star struck person filmed them on the sly but it’s nice to see Meghan out meeting friends. She isn’t engaging with the press over there but she’s not hiding either. I remember her saying that in the Bloomberg podcast that they just go to places and do normal things. It’s others who make it weird. Another thing mentioned was how their every move is no linger tracked and that is because they are outside the leaking palace apparatus with its snitching staff. Anyway she looks nice, still loving the big pants silhouette. It’s great she’s still in touch with Malala.
They’re obviously following her everywhere, but picking and choosing when to publish. In this case, they can blame it on the diner who invaded their privacy.
There are already tons of street photos of them in the *Daily Mail* and nearly 9,000 comments—it’s as if everyone rushed to write something because they finally got to see Meghan out and about, and with a Nobel laureate, no less.
Meghan’s outfit was fantastic—a bit wild. Kaiser will surely give us the full rundown tomorrow… 🙂
Fantastic! I love Malala SO MUCH.
YankeeDoodles, totally correct. A hotel of their reputation should know by now how to protect famous patrons from this type of exploitation. Outrageous and unacceptable.
I honestly don’t think all the hand ringing about pictures being taken is needed. Meghan and Harry want to be public figures. And in public – public figures are going to be photographed. Just imagine if it was Taylor Swift, or Beyonce in this location. Public figures know when they are going to be photographed. Case in point they are hugging outside and taking their time. Both of them would have known that that was happening. I don’t think that public figures should very feel unsafe or have their homes watched but if you go to a restaurant you are fare game. It’s part of the game after all.
It’s not a restaurant; it’s a hotel. And it was afternoon tea (NOT high tea) not dinner.
Yes. Quite right, it is a hotel, informally known as “Hollywood’s home away from home.”
The sweetest tidbit is the framed portrait hanging on the wall above the corner booth where the two women were seated: Yul Byrnner, lead actor in (can’t make this **** up) “The King and I.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40621682/meghan-markle-dines-nobel-winner-claridges/
Total joy, bliss. Meghan couldn’t have more fun with the horrid British media if she tried!!!
The Duchess is American exceptionalism at its best!
I hope that’s what she’s having!
Correction: Yul *Brynner*
Actually Claridge’s is not known as the discrete venue. It’s kind of like the Peninsula in New York. Attracts lots of celebs and gawkers. The more discrete is the Berkeley where the in the know celebs and execs stay and can dine. So discrete they do not even have a name on the building.