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Meghan Markle goes back to her acting roots as she visits National Theatre for first time as patron

A glowing Duchess of Sussex visited the National Theatre today for the first time since succeeding the Queen as its patron.

Meghan, who is heavily pregnant, was going back to her acting roots as she learned about the work of the institution and met staff and apprentices working behind the scenes.

The duchess has an affinity with the National Theatre after spending a decade working as an actress in television, where she was best known for her role in the hit US legal drama series Suits, playing paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane.

She also has a theatre background having studied theatre and international relations at Northwestern University, Illinois, and volunteered at a performing arts after-school programme for children in underprivileged school districts in Los Angeles.

Meghan is a strong believer in using the arts to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together - and her views chime with the National Theatre's ethos of producing world class theatre with the aim of being as inclusive, diverse and national as possible.

During her visit, the duchess was joining a workshop with members of the Pericles company, which was the National Theatre's first Public Acts production in 2018.

The play was performed by a company of over 200 people of all ages.

The duchess, who is heavily pregnant, watched a performance by the Edith Neville Primary School during her visit to the National Theatre. (Twitter / Kensington Palace)
The duchess, who is heavily pregnant, watched a performance by the Edith Neville Primary School during her visit to the National Theatre. (Twitter / Kensington Palace)

One of the performers, Blessing, 13, met the duchess, and said her experience in performing in the play allowed her “to discover more about what she could do and gain more confidence.”

She also watched a performance inspired by War Horse by school children from Edith Neville Primary School in Camden, which was created to mark the centenary of Armistice Day.

The 2017-18 season saw the National Theatre stage 19 productions at the South Bank, 10 across the UK, three in the West End and six internationally.

The Duchess of Sussex meets current and former National Theatre apprentices — the NT launched its apprenticeship and trainee programme in 2011, which combines studying for formal qualifications alongside practical training. (Twitter / Kensington Palace)
The Duchess of Sussex meets current and former National Theatre apprentices — the NT launched its apprenticeship and trainee programme in 2011, which combines studying for formal qualifications alongside practical training. (Twitter / Kensington Palace)

Its UK-wide learning and participation programme supports young people's creative education through performance and writing programmes like Connections, New Views and Let's Play.

The National Theatre extends its reach through digital programmes including NT Live, which broadcasts some of the best of British theatre to over 2,500 venues in 65 countries, and the free streaming service On Demand In Schools, used by nearly 60% of UK state secondary schools.

Also on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex, in his role of Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, was meeting young people from across the Commonwealth at a roundtable discussion at Lancaster House.