Meghan Markle looks like a kid in a sweet shop as she makes a surprise appearance at a fashion photoshoot for the charity Smart Works in a sweet behind-the-scenes video shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram account today.
The sweet clip comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have been vocal on environmental issues, provoked outrage by flying on private jets four times in 11 days this month.
In the ‘sneak peak’ clip, shared to Instagram Stories and set to Bill Withers’ 1977 hit Lovely Day, the duchess, 38, is seen excitedly helping coordinate the shoot for the capsule collection she is spearheading in partnership with the women’s organisation.
The new line will be in aid of charity and was announced following the launch of Meghan’s Vogue magazine campaign.
Smart Works, one of Meghan’s first patronages, helps women, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, get interview-ready by providing them with a new outfit and coaching from a team of volunteer mentors.
Meghan surprised everyone at Smart Works when she showed up for the shoot, believed to have taken place in London today, reports BAZAAR.com.
Meghan Markle looks like an excited schoolgirl in a behind-the-scenes video of a fashion photoshoot shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram account today
Dressed in a loose blue and white striped cotton shirt by Frank & Eileen and navy skinny jeans, teamed with a pair of nude stilettos, Meghan warmly welcomes the women arriving to take part with a huge smile and enveloping hugs.
She’s seen laughing and joking as the women, dressed in items from the upcoming collection, have their photos taken and is seen taking a keen interest in the end result, helping with styling and looking over the shoulder of the photographer at her computer.
In the final few seconds of the video, the duchess turns to the camera and excitedly claps her hands, clearly delighted with the images.
The video is captioned: ‘Sneak peek at the new Smart Works charity capsule collection shoot, ahead of the autumn launch.
‘An initiative supporting the Smart Works collective which will equip women entering the work force with the key work wear essentials they need… Coming soon.’
The Sussex Royal Instagram account has already posted a series of images focusing on the duchess’s collaboration with Smart Works, of which she was appointed Royal patron in January.
Meghan, dressed in a loose blue and white cotton shirt and dark navy skinny jeans, teamed with a pair of nude stilettos, welcomes the women arriving to take part with a huge smile and warm hugs
In the ‘sneak peak’ clip shared to Instagram Stories, the duchess, 38, is seen embracing the ladies who have been chosen to take part
After some ‘quiet visits’ to the charity over the last year, Meghan revealed she was keen to help to charity.
In a previous post, the Sussexes wrote: ‘The Duchess was moved by the impactful work being done by this non profit organisation that helps women into the workforce, equipping them with both the skills and clothes they need to feel job-ready.
‘Throughout her visits she noticed that while the donations were plentiful, they were also notably a combination of mismatched items and colours which weren’t always the right stylistic choices or sizes that didn’t necessarily “suit” the job at hand: to make a woman feel confident and inspired as she walked into her job interview.
Meghan is seen laughing and joking as the women, dressed in items from the upcoming collection, have their photos taken
The duchess seen taking a keen interest in the end result, attending to the women as they pose for the camera
In one frame, Meghan is seen taking a look at the photos so far on the photographer’s computer
Enthusiastic Meghan giggles like a schoolgirl during the shoot, clearly thrilled with how it’s going
‘As a result, launching this autumn, The Duchess will be supporting a collective to help equip the women of Smart Works with the key workwear essentials they need as they enter into the workplace.’
The post added that the initiative will be supported by ‘four generous brands who share the vision to empower the women of Smart Works’ as they venture into the job market.
It continued: ‘The brands have come together to work towards this united force for good, [reframing] the idea of charity as community.’
The new line will be in aid of charity and was announced following the launch of Meghan’s Vogue magazine campaign
Meghan Markle pictured above with a representitative of Smart Works while she is heavily pregnant. The charity Smart Works is in place to help vulnerable woman have the tools to suceeed in job interviews
The post then went on to thank brands such as John Lewis and Partners, Marks & Spencer, Misha NoNoo and Jigsaw.
A royal source confirmed the idea had been Meghan’s and said the collection would be available later this year but ‘no further details could be given at present’.
Writing in the September edition of Vogue which she guest-edited, Meghan said: ‘When you walk into a Smart Works space you’re met with racks of clothing and an array of bags and shoes.
Meghan (pictured above embracing people from the charity) has been praised for her work with female oriented campaigns
The Sussex Royal Instagram account previously posted a series of photos in which Meghan seems to be pregnant in most. In the picture above she seems to be browsing through clothing rails
‘Sometimes, however, it can be a potpourri of mismatched sizes and colors, not always the right stylistic choices or range of sizes.’
‘To help with this, I asked Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and my friends, the designer Mischa Nonoo, if they were willing to design a capsule collection of more classic options for a workwear wardrobe.
‘Taking the idea further, many of the brands agreed to use the one-for-one model: for each item purchased by a customer, one is donated to the charity. Not only does this allow us to be part of each other’s story, it reminds us we are in it together.’
Meghan Markle (left) and Misha Nonoo at an awards ceremony in 2015. Meghan has persuaded major British retailers Marks & Spencer , John Lewis and Jigsaw – along with her designer friend, Mischa Nonoo – to create a ‘capsule’ collection of women’s workwear
Smart works offers a two hour dressing and coaching service for unemployed women with confirmed job interviews.
Each client has a personalised styling session with two Smart Works volunteer stylists, receiving a complete outfit of high quality clothes and accessories for their specific job interview, which are free and hers to keep.
After her dressing, each client receives a one-to-one interview preparation and coaching session with an experienced HR professional or senior manager.
Once a client is successful at interview, they are welcomed back to receive five additional pieces of clothing. This means that they can start their new role with a capsule working wardrobe which will see them through until their first pay cheque.
The post stated highlighted an article which will appear in this month’s British Vogue – which Meghan is guest editing. Meghan is pictured above with the CEO of Smart Works, Kate Stephens
The inspirational post states that the new initiative will remind people that they are ‘in it together’ and said that brands have come together to work for a ‘force for good
Meghan wrote of the charity: ‘The reason why I was drawn to Smart Works is that it reframed the idea of charity as community… It’s a network of women supporting and empowering other women in their professional pursuits.’
It was Meghan’s passion for Smart Works that set the whole British Vogue ball rolling and promoted her to approach its editor in chief, Edward Enninful, she has revealed.
She writes: ‘It’s the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the earnestness of the staff and, most of all, the blushing, bashful and beautiful smile that crosses a client’s face when she sees herself in the mirror, that I have found so profoundly compelling.’
The go-getting duchess’s idea with Smart Works follows on from her collaboration with the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen in West London, a communal kitchen that supports members of the community affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, to bring out a cookbook that has raised more than £500,000 so far.
Prince Harry and Meghan were branded ‘hypocrites’ after they used private jets to travel with their infant son Archie to Ibiza to celebrate Meghan’s birthday and then flew to Nice last week for a brief vacation at Sir Elton John’s private villa.
Royal experts have argued that the public don’t want to be lectured on climate change by the couple if they can’t follow their own advice.