Meghan Markle Encourages Sex Workers with A Charitable Message of Love
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had quite the busy Friday in Bristol. Between a series of scheduled visits, the two made an unexpected stop at One25, a charity dedicated to “enabling women to break free from street sex-work, addiction, and other life-controlling issues and build new, independent lives,” according to their website. The organization delivers food, condoms, blankets, and hot water bottles to sex workers, in addition to providing support and raising awareness.
While visiting the charity, the pair was introduced to a former prostitute and shown packaged bags of food that would be handed out to women on the streets of Bristol later that evening. Markle, wearing a flowy Oscar de la Renta dress and thinking quickly on her feet, decided to make the bags a little more personal by including encouraging messages on the bananas—her very own version of Bananagrams.
“I saw this project this woman had started somewhere in the States on a school lunch program,” Markle said, according to DailyMail correspondent Rebecca English. “On each of the bananas, she wrote an affirmation, to make the kids feel really empowered. It was the most incredible idea — this small gesture.”
A video posted to Kensington Palace’s Twitter showed the Duchess writing the messages with a Sharpie, saying “I’m in charge of the banana messaging!” Some of the phrases on the fruit read “You are strong,” “You are loved,” “You are special” and “You are brave.”
After Meghan and Harry met with the charity’s volunteers, drop-in coordinators, mentors, and execs, CEO Anna Sminoted that “the women we support are often hidden from society and this visit shines a light on the enormous challenges they face and the incredible strength they have.” Smith later told reporter Omid Scobie about how Markle “listened and heard that we don’t judge, we just offer our service. She totally got it.”
Leave it to Markle, who braved the snow to make the trip, to go the extra mile with her royal duties. Yas queen.