Meghan and Malala Yousafzai seen dining at Claridge's in her first London sighting since UK return

Mixed · 2Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was seen dining with Malala Yousafzai at Claridge's, the Mayfair hotel in London, on Wednesday 7 October. 1 2 Mixed · 2The sighting is described as Meghan's first in London since the Sussexes returned to the UK with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet, in late August. 1 2 Mixed · 2The pair were captured in the background of a video posted on social media by a diner at the hotel, captioned "POV: Claridge's decided to seat Meghan Markle and Malala in front of you." 1 2

Mixed · 2The Mirror says the two sat in a corner booth, appeared deep in conversation and seemed oblivious to the filming; it said it had contacted Meghan's spokesperson for comment. The Mail adds that Meghan wore a white turtleneck jumper and Malala kept a tan jacket on. 1 2 Mixed · 2Meghan and Malala have been friends since 2020, when they joined a virtual conversation with Harry marking International Day of the Girl about girls' education; Malala said afterwards that "Meghan and I are on the same page: we both believe that when girls have access to education, everyone wins." 1 2 Right · 1The Mail, which gives Meghan's age as 45 and Malala's as 29, notes that Malala, from Pakistan and now living in Birmingham, was shot in the head aged 14 by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 as its youngest recipient. 2

Mixed · 2Days earlier, Harry and Meghan were photographed holding hands going into the Falkland Arms pub in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, on Friday 2 October, their first public outing together since returning; the Mirror says their children were at school. 1 2 Mixed · 2Both outlets also tie the sighting to Meghan's As Ever lifestyle brand, which announced a Christmas range: the Mirror lists three hampers priced £159 to £195, while the Mail focuses on a £112 chocolate advent calendar sold only in the US. 1 2 Right · 1The Mail further reports that an Anglican priest, Reverend Daniel French, locked his X account after online abuse from Meghan's supporters, known as the "Sussex Squad", when he suggested a £6 Christian advent calendar as an alternative. 2