The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka our favourite royal newlyweds, stepped out to attend the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition on London’s Southbank, marking 100 years since the former South African president’s birth.
Dressed in a blush pink sleeveless trench coat by Canadian designer House of Nonie and rocking her trademark messy bun, Duchess Meghan glowed as she and her husband, Prince Harry, admired the artwork and met with figures including Mandela’s granddaughter, Zamaswazi Dlamini-Mandela.
Back when she was Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex was an active advocate for social justice as a Global Ambassador for World Vision and a UN women’s advocate. And while her father Thomas Markle recently claimed she seemed “terrified” of royal life, we’ve never seen Meghan look so at ease as she showcased her diplomatic skills.
The Duchess was all smiles as she met 92 year-old Andrew Mlangeni, who spent 26 years on Robben Island.
Leading the way like a pro!
The exhibition sheds light on Nelson Mandela’s life through six themes — character, comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator and statesman.
The Duke and Duchess met with esteemed guests including Thembi Tambo, South Africa’s High Commissioner to the UK and daughter of anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo, a close colleague of Mr Mandela. They also met 92-year-old Andrew Mlangeni, who was accused of sabotage against the then apartheid government in South Africa in 1963 as part of the Rivonia Trial, and went on to spend 26 years in prison on Robben Island, one of the places where Nelson Mandela was held behind bars for 27 years.
But despite their hectic schedule, the royal newlyweds still had that look of love.
These two still only have eyes for each other.
While Harry and Meghan never actually met Nelson Mandela, other members of the British Royal Family including the Queen and Prince Charles had the chance to before he died in 2013.
Princess Diana met with the anti-apartheid figure just months before her death in 1997 and on his royal tour of Africa in 2015, Prince Harry was given the opportunity to view some rare artefacts from Mandela’s life, including the photo.
Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana in 1997.
