Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton share friendly kiss at Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey
It looked like there was a royal reunion in store Monday, March 11, as the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex were seen together, attending the Commonwealth Day service along with the Queen at Westminster Abbey.
The two were seen exchanging friendly kisses on both cheeks as they gathered at the entrance along with senior royals while waiting for the Queen and Prince Charles to arrive. This was their second engagement together in a week and came just a couple of days after they had attended a reception together to mark the 50th anniversary of Prince Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales which took place at the Buckingham Palace.
The pregnant Meghan Markle was among the first to arrive and looked stunning in an all-white outfit designed by Victoria Beckham. She completed the outfit with a chain-print dress, coat, bag, and a pair of shoes, totaling a cost of around £9,000 ($11,800). This was very different from the green ensemble (also estimated to cost £9,000) she had sported while visiting Canada House in London along with Prince Harry, the day before.
On the other hand, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, was seen wearing a red recycled Catherine Walker coat along with a matching dress, which she had earlier worn in New Zealand in 2014. Middleton finished off the look with a Gina Foster hat.
After meeting with dignitaries outside, the royal pair were seen sharing a warm and friendly greeting as they took their seats. The Commonwealth represents around 53 countries and almost 2.4 billion people.
2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth, which helps to enable coordinated efforts and cooperation towards social, political and economic development.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the Queen, who has been the head of the Commonwealth throughout her reign, said: "In April last year, I welcomed the leaders of our 53 nations to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and we all witnessed how the Commonwealth vision offers hope and inspires us to find ways of protecting our planet, and our people."
"We are able to look to the future with greater confidence and optimism as a result of the links that we share, and thanks to the networks of co-operation and mutual support to which we contribute, and on which we draw. With enduring commitment through times of great change, successive generations have demonstrated that whilst the goodwill for which the Commonwealth is renowned may be intangible, its impact is very real," she continued. The Queen was joined by Prince Harry, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York and the Prince of Wales.