Meghan Markle returns to acting roots for first visit to National Theatre as patron
![The Duchess of Sussex visits the National Theatre on London’s South Bank [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ReGdcWcCM_3gfVLoCXNWkQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/fdbc87fefb62cb9edf061da7b1112688)
The Duchess of Sussex returned to her acting roots as she visited the National Theatre on London’s South Bank on Wednesday afternoon.
It was her first engagement as its Patron, one of two passed on by the Queen, and given Meghan’s previous career, it’s an apt choice.
The former actress, 37, had several roles in TV series and films, but the one she was most known for was playing paralegal Rachel Zane on US legal drama ‘Suits’ from 2011 to 2017.
While Meghan spent 10 years working in television, her training is in theatre. As well as a double major in theatre and international relations from Northwestern University, in Illinois, the Duchess volunteered at a performing arts after school programme for children in underprivileged school districts in Los Angeles.
![Meghan wore a blush pink co-ordinated jacket and dress by Brandon Maxwell [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nIgqZ7BR_S8skUFx4s3VRw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE2NTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/e7d48fe7b25c028d6f316034d124b57f)
Today at the National Theatre she met with some of the teams and apprentices working behind the scenes, as well as a performance inspired by War Horse by schoolchildren from Edith Neville Primary School in Camden.
Meghan, who is due to give birth to her first child in spring, wore a blush pink blazer and co-ordinating dress by Brandon Maxwell with her Aquazzura Matilde pumps and her Carolina Herrera ‘Insignia’ roll clutch bag for the visit.
![The Duchess joins a workshop with members of the Pericles Company, which was the National Theatre’s first public Acts production in 2018 [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eWCH0kDW9ZtU7hcRk8BM4A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/64e463b9bce2bd508a352a9769a58f66)
Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, said: “The areas that the Duchess is very passionate about, in terms of the education work we do, the participatory work we do and our nationwide work, these are all the things that are very much in accord with areas that she’s passionate about and has been passionate about for all of her adult life, so it feels a very natural fit.”
The #DuchessofSussex arrives at @nationaltheatre on London’s South Bank. It’s her first official visit as Patron – one which was passed on by the Queen. pic.twitter.com/4uhP8OATKG
— Danielle Stacey (@daniellestacey1) January 30, 2019
On Thursday, Meghan will visit another one of the Patronages passed to her by the Queen – the Association of Commonwealth Universities, taking place at City, University of London.
She and Harry will also take a trip up to Bristol on Friday, where they’ll be making stops at the Old Vic and Empire Fighting Chance, a charity which aims to fight the impact of deprivation on young people’s lives through boxing.
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