Meghan Markle made a statement on Thursday amid the backdrop of Prince Harry’s ongoing “professional separation.” The Duchess of Sussex hosted a community dinner for Afghan women relocating to the US last week – where participants also shared stories and read poetry. Meanwhile, Prince Harry traveled to Canada and New York to promote the 2025 Invictus Games.

“This initiative – led by partner organization Mina’s List – has spent the past year building community through storytelling and creating a safe space for women resettled from Afghanistan to the United States,” an official statement said.

The “Suits” alum — once a fixture in newspapers around the world — has largely disappeared from the spotlight in 2024. The Duchess of Sussex has made only a sparse handful of public appearances in recent months, while Prince Harry has traveled alone to various countries in an attempt to restore his public image. The duo have reportedly decided to have a “professional separation” as their employment relationship remains in a “very poor state.”

The US-based royals appear to lead separate public lives – with many pointing to “scheduling conflicts” in their public image. An exclusive interview with Markle during the recent Thanksgiving dinner, for example, appeared on Marie Claire’s website just minutes after the Netflix trailer for a Prince Harry polo series landed on YouTube.

The Archewell Foundation, founded by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, launched the Welcome Project in 2023 to support Afghan women resettling in the United States. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had already visited the initiative’s San Antonio branch in March.

The evening included a shared meal and “encouraged open conversations about gratitude and resilience.” Participants were also given new cookware for the upcoming holiday season.

“The Duchess expressed her deep appreciation to participants for sharing their personal stories and cultural experiences, underscoring her enthusiasm for future meetings that will further strengthen these connections,” the statement continued.