Meghan Markle has shared a festive message of support with a “notable” charity in the UK.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, contributed her moving words to the program of a Christmas carol concert to raise funds for Smart Works, of which she has been a patron since 2019.
The organization helps unemployed women with clothing and training to get a job.
The event was held at St Marylebone Parish Church in London on Tuesday and Meghan wished attendees a Merry Christmas “from my family to yours”.
According to an image of the program shared by People magazine, Meghan said: ‘As a proud patron, it is my pleasure to warmly welcome everyone to the Smart Works Carol Concert tonight.
‘Tonight promises to be a truly magical celebration, filled with special guests and artists and, most importantly, the shared spirit of community that defines Smart Works.
‘Together we come together to honor the work and dedication of this extraordinary organisation, which continues to empower women across the UK through training, clothing and instilling confidence on their path to employment.
“Thank you for supporting us by being here at St Marylebone Parish Church, under the beautiful haze of Christmas wreaths and candlelight.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, contributed her moving words to the program of a Christmas carol concert to raise funds for Smart Works, of which she has been a patron since 2019. Photographed at a Smart Works event in 2019
Meghan’s comments were shared in the program of British charity Smart Works’ carol service at St Marylebone Parish Church on Tuesday.
She continued: ‘In a year where the landscape for women in the workplace has continued to change, Smart Works has been a constant source of encouragement. Their service is more than rediscovering employment, it is rediscovering empowerment.
‘As Smart Works continues to encourage the community, I hope you will continue to support them. I hope you enjoy the festivities and, from my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.’
Other famous faces took part in the service, with actress and comedian Jennifer Saunders doing a reading and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke performing Hallelujah.
After the service, Alexandra wrote on her Instagram story: ‘What a special night. Proud to be an ambassador for @smartworkscharity.’
Meghan’s words come just days before her sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, also offers a carol service.
Kate Middleton will lead the Together At Christmas concert on December 6 with performances by Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter.
She will emphasize the importance of love in “our darkest times” in a deeply moving letter to guests attending the event.
Guests include six-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, who has terminal cancer, and Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery, who lost her fiance to the disease.
The event was held at St Marylebone Parish Church in London on Tuesday and Meghan wished attendees a Merry Christmas “from my family to yours”. Meghan photographed in October
The Duchess has visited the charity several times (before and after being named royal patron) and has a long-standing commitment to supporting women’s empowerment. Photographed in 2019
Smart Works has a team of 300 trained volunteers across two offices in London, as well as centers in Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham and Newcastle. Meghan visits Smart Works in 2019
The Princess also invited children who survived the horrific Southport stabbings in July.
Meghan was named a patron of Smart Works in January 2019, when she and Prince Harry were still residing in the UK, but since moving to the US, she has continued to support the organization with a grant from her Archewell Foundation .
Smart Works has a team of 300 trained volunteers across two offices in London, as well as centers in Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading, Birmingham and Newcastle.
The Duchess has visited the charity several times (before and after being named royal patron) and has a long-standing commitment to supporting women’s empowerment.
She launched a limited-edition clothing range to benefit the Smart Works charity in 2019. It included a £19.50 dress from Marks & Spencer; a £109 John Lewis handbag; a £120 shirt from Meghan’s designer friend Misha Nonoo; and a £199 jacket and £120 trousers, both from Jigsaw.
In 2022, Meghan announced a new partnership with accessories brand Cuyana, which donated 500 handbags to the charity.
It comes as her husband Prince Harry revealed last night that he and his wife have no plans to return to the UK with Archie and Lilibet.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, spoke about his desire to stay in the United States at the annual DealBook Summit Live in New York on Wednesday.
Prince Harry revealed Wednesday that he and his wife Meghan Markle have no plans to leave the United States.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan moved to California in 2020. Pictured this year in Nigeria.
It was there that the prince said safety was a factor in his and Meghan’s decision to stay where they were for the time being, as well as their children’s future.
The Sussexes have called Montecito, California, home since the summer of 2020, after they fled the United Kingdom and the Royal Family.
The times Prince Harry said at the summit on Wednesday: “I really enjoy living here and raising my children here.”
The Duke added that there are also activities he can do with young Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, which he “certainly wouldn’t be able to do in the UK.”
Harry said he was also focused on “being the best husband and the best father I can be.”
Elsewhere today, it was revealed that Harry enlisted the services of his neighbor Katy Perry to sing at the opening night of her Invictus Games, which take place on February 8, 2025.
The Grammy-nominated star will headline the inaugural event for disabled military veterans in Vancouver, Canada.
Katy is by far the biggest star to appear at the biannual event attended by Harry and his wife Meghan.
She and her partner, British actor Orlando Bloom, are close neighbors of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Montecito, California.
The couple were among the guests at Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet’s third birthday party at their mansion in the posh California enclave favored by many A-list stars.
The Invictus Games will be the first major event Harry and Meghan attended together after reports emerged that they were going their separate ways on their engagements.
Harry and Meghan, 43, left royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States in June of that year.