Meghan Markle swapped her formal royal dresses for a more relaxed outfit as she joined new husband Prince Harry to meet Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter on what would have been his 100th birthday.
The whole royal family came together to pay moving tributes to the former South African leader and freedom fighter, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex led the way as they visited the opening of an exhibition in London celebrating Mandela’s life and legacy.
Meghan was pictured speaking at length with Mandela’s granddaughter Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela at the exhibition, who praised both her and Harry, saying their stance on “justice and fairness in the world makes them a shining example for the youth of today”.
Looking relaxed and happy for the special day, Meghan opted for a sleeveless trench coat dress by House of Nonie and sky-high nude stilettos, wearing her hair in a loose up do and opting for minimal make-up.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, who chose a grey suit jacket and tan trousers for the event, remained firmly by her side as they arrived at the Southbank Centre together, before they shared constant loving glances with each other inside.
It no doubt meant a lot to Harry after his late mother Princess Diana famously met Mandela previously during a private visit to South Africa in 1997, months before her tragic death.
It was his granddaughter Ms Dlamini-Mandela, 39, a fashion designer and entrepreneur, who proudly stepped in to represent the family on this occasion, and she gave a heartwarming speech to the crowd to thank them for their support.
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She said: “Today’s event is hugely significant – not only because we are here to celebrate the life of a great man in history, but also because we are able to educate the next generation, that we must never repeat the mistakes of the past.
“The visit of their royal highnesses Harry and Meghan is a great honour. Their support for justice and fairness in the world makes them a shining example for the youth of today and tomorrow.”
She added: “Our families have a great history and a shared legacy together and it’s important as us young people to make sure we carry that legacy forward.”
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Meanwhile, Mandela’s former Robben Island prison mate also attended the opening and praised the Duke and Duchess’ visit, saying it shows the monarchy supported their “struggle for freedom”.
According to the Telegraph, Andrew Mlangeni, 93, joked: “When I shook their hands I said for the whole month I’m not going to wash my hand – I never thought I would meet royalty.”
Mandela was arrested for conspiring to overthrow the apartheid state in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial. He served 27 years in prison, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Victor Verster Prison, before finally being released by then-president FW de Klerk in 1990.
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The rest of the royal family paid tribute to Mandela on social media, as their official Instagram page shared photos of the Queen and Prince Charles meeting the inspirational leader previously.
On a photo of the Queen shaking his hand, they wrote: “The Queen has previously met Nelson Mandela many times, including in Cape Town in 1996, and this year gifted some of the letters she had exchanged with Mandela to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.”