The Duchess of Sussex looked stunning in black gown as she walked the yellow carpet at the glittering The Lion King European premiere this evening.
Meghan, 37, attended the star studded event in London’s Leicester Square with husband Prince Harry, 34, brushing shoulders with some of Hollywood’s most famous stars.
The royal couple will watch the live-action remake of the classic 1990s film, as well as meeting the cast and crew of the movie, which includes Beyoncé, Donald Glover and Seth Rogen.
The former Suits actress looked at home on the yellow carpet, posing for photographs alongside Prince Harry, despite recent backlash about their approach to privacy.
Despite being on maternity leave, it is the second appearance the royal has made this weekend, after she watched close friend Serena Williams play in the Wimbledon final alongside sister-in-law Kate Middleton, 37, yesterday.
It comes after Meghan was branded ‘childish’ and ‘a control freak’ by former world champion Sally Jones, 64, following an appearance at Wimbledon last week, as she flaunted dress codes at the event while her security told fans not to photograph her.
The controversy came just days after Meghan and Harry faced a public backlash for insisting on keeping their son Archie’s christening completely private, and refusing to reveal the names of his godparents.
Despite walking plenty of red carpets in her former days as an actress, tonight’s film premiere is Meghan’s first as a royal.
Following their glittering appearance in front of the world’s press, the Duke and Duchess will meet the cast and crew, before watching the film.
The outing could afford Meghan the chance to meet Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z who paid tribute to her by posing in front of a portrait of the Duchess, during their BRIT Awards acceptance speech earlier this year.
Alongside the release of the film, The Walt Disney Company announced the launch of a global conversation campaign called Protect the Pride.
It will hope to raise awareness for the dwindling population of lions across Africa, and will be supported by the Royal Foundation.
The royal couple will meet with representatives from organisations doing ground-breaking work in the areas of conservation and the environment.
Sir Elton John and David Furnish donned smart black suits for the evening out at the Lion King premiere. Sir Elton is said to have performed ‘Circle of Life’ at Meghan and Harry’s wedding reception
Stars of the film and A-list celebrities gathered in Leicester Square at the Lion King premiere and posed for photographs on the ‘yellow’ carpet (pictured left Jon Favreau and right Pharrel Williams with Helen Lasichanh
Pumba actor Seth Rogen was one of the first to grace the red carpet this evening, posing alongside his wife Lauren Miller
Strike a pose! One of the stars of the film Billy Eichner, who plays the meerkat Timone in the live action remake, donned a silver jacket for the star studded event
Sir Elton John beamed as he posed alongside husband David Furnish at The Lion King premiere
Prince Harry has taken a keen interest in African conservation projects over the years, and supports a number of wildlife and community projects.
On leaving the Army in 2015, Harry spent three months working on number of such projects in Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana. He is also President of African Parks and Patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana.
Buckingham Palace said: ‘The Duke of Sussex has taken a deep personal interest in frontline conservation projects that work to protect Africa’s natural heritage and support both wildlife and local communities.’
Several members of the royal family have confessed to the original Disney film being a favourite.
The premiere marks Meghan’s second appearance of the weekend, despite technically being on maternity leave. Following her controversial appearance at Wimbledon last week, she attended the Women’s Single Final alongside sister-in-law Kate Middleton and Pippa yesterday
Meghan has made several public appearances in the past few days, including attended Prince Harry’s charity polo match with baby Archie on Tuesday. It comes after a controversial two weeks for the royals, as backlash grows around their approach to privacy (pictured Prince Harry, Meghan and baby Archie on Tuesday)
Prince Harry has previously mentioned watching it more than 20 times, and said he is able to recite the words and songs from heart.
And he’s not the only royal to call it his ‘favourite film’, with sources saying little Prince George is also a huge fan of the animated movie.
It is also believed the film has special meaning to Harry and Meghan, who attended a West End production of the musical for one of their early dates in December 2016.
Sir Elton is also believed to have performed Circle of Life at the royal couple’s wedding reception at Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Beyonce stars as Nala in the remake of the classic Disney film, and attended the premiere in Los Angeles along with her daughter Blue Ivy on Tuesday
The premiere could see Meghan come face-to-face with Beyonce, who stars as Nala in the Disney remake.
Beyonce honoured Meghan at the BRIT Awards in February, and shared a tribute to her on her website during Black History Month.
As part of her message, she wrote: ‘Meghan brought many Black traditions to her Royal Wedding including a Chicago-based Black pastor, an amazing gospel choir, and a young Black cellist.
‘At the wedding her culture was front and center, and she and Prince Harry have continued to push the race relations dialogue forward both near and far.’
Beyonce and husband Jay-Z have paid homage to Meghan on several occasions, including their BRIT awards acceptance speech in February of this year
Meghan’s make-up artist Daniel Martin said the duchess had seen the Brit awards painting and sent him big eye emojis in response.
Harry and Meghan are taking baby Archie to South Africa in the autumn, and the duke will go on to carry out solo visits to Angola, Malawi and Botswana.
Tonight’s event will provide Meghan a good opportunity to portray a more positive image after recent public difficulties.
A growing backlash has faced the Duchess after she made a controversial visit to watch friend Serena Williams play at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The royal caused a stir at Wimbledon last week as her bodyguards asked fans not to take pictures of her, and she flouted rules by wearing jeans
The royal caused a stir as her bodyguards told fans not to take pictures of her, and she flouted rules by wearing jeans in a members’ only area.
It was claimed she was attending in a ‘private capacity’, with two close friends from her Northwestern University Days, Genevieve Hills and Lindsay Roth.
Meanwhile, another fan who was told off by Meghan’s security team for taking a picture nearby, was actually taking a selfie and not trying to photograph the Duchess.
Additionally, club sources said she was a ‘nightmare’ to accommodate, with her casual attire and ‘self-regarding paranoia’.
The controversy comes just days after Meghan and Harry faced backlash over Archie’s christening last week, which they insisted on keeping private and refused to name their son’s godparents (pictured, one of the two photographs released from the event last week, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor with and (L-R) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room)
An official tasked with organising the event told The Times: ‘It was a nightmare, she was a nightmare.’
The controversy came just days after Harry and Meghan faced growing backlash over their son Archie’s christening last week, which they insisted on keeping private, despite recently billing the public £2.4million to renovate Frogmore cottage.
A handful of royals fans gathered in Windsor for the event and, though excited, some suggested they have been left ‘disappointed’ that the public will not get to see any of the private ceremony or find out who has been chosen as godparents.