Meghan Markle gave her first public speech as an official royal during her cookbook launch event at Kensington Palace on Thursday.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has launched a charity cookbook to raise money for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Together: Our Community Cookbook features recipes from women who are part of the Hubb Community Kitchen, which was created to provide for the hundreds of residents who were left homeless following the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.
The Duchess was joined by her husband Prince Harry and her mother Doria Ragland at Kensington Palace on Thursday for a party to celebrate the launch of Together – and she helped prepare lunch for the guests too.
Although Meghan Markle previously spoke at the Endeavour Awards in February, this marked her first public address after the royal wedding in May. Read through her speech below.
“Working on this project for the past nine months has been a tremendous labour of love.
“I had just recently moved to London, and I felt so immediately embraced by the women in the kitchen, their warmth, and their kindness, and also to be able to see, in this one small room, how multicultural it was. On a personal level, I feel so proud to live in a city that can have so much diversity. It’s 12 countries represented in this one group of women. It’s pretty outstanding.
“There’s so many people to thank. Of course, Penguin Random House and Ebury [Press], your support and belief in this from the beginning has been incredible. Al Manaar [Muslim Cultural Heritage Center], thank you so much in the support seeing this through for us. Our team at Kensington Palace and the Royal Foundation, on a personal note, I’m especially grateful because this is my first project, so I appreciate your support in the vision that I had for this and seeing it come to fruition.
“And then everyone behind the scenes. It truly took a village to see this through. From [food] economists and photography and people donating their time and energy, even on the event today, to see this happen. Everyone embraced this so deeply because it’s been a passion project for all of us, and for a very good reason.
“I said in the foreword that this is more than a cookbook. And what I mean by that is the power of food is more than just the meal itself; it is the story behind it. And when you get to know the story of the recipe, you get to know the person behind it.
“And that’s what we’re talking about in terms of coming together, to really engage and talk and be able to celebrate what connects us rather than what divides us. That, I believe, is the ethos of Together.
“So, to the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this adventure with you. I’m so privileged to know you. I’m so excited to see the projects that you’re going to continue to do in your own community, the community at large, and also how you’re going to inspire people globally by sharing your stories and your recipes.
“It’s so impactful. You can see in just a few days alone, and the book’s not even out yet! What you’ve been able to do, that’s a testament to people and I’m so proud of you.
“So, on that note, I know some people have started eating, as you should. I’d be the last one to want the food to get cold, so please enjoy a beautiful lunch, and one last round of applause for the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen.”
