Meghan Markle was all smiles as she was snapped leaving London's Claridges hotel with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai just last week.
The two women teamed up for a charitable initiative to mark International Day of the Girl - 11 October 2026 - with Meghan taking to Instagram on Sunday to share details of their partnership.
She shared photos from their recent meeting, including one that showed them with their arms around each other, smiling at the camera as they sat having afternoon tea in the Foyer & Reading Room at the Mayfair hotel.
“When we support the girls of today, we empower the women of tomorrow. Access to education is the key to unlocking this,” the pair wrote in the joint caption as they announced a new partnership between their non-profit organisations and Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever.
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"This International Day of the Girl, in partnership with Archewell Philanthropies, 100% of net proceeds from As Ever jams and teas will support Malala Fund and its vital work to ensure that every girl has access to free, safe, quality education.
“Tea for Two has never felt so good,” the message concluded, tagging As Ever and the Malala Fund.
Meghan, 45, and Malala, 29, have known each other for years; they first joined forces in October 2020 for a video chat, again to celebrate the International Day of the Girl.
© Instagram / @meghan
But it is Meghan's husband who first met the Pakistani female education activist - and it ended up being incredibly awkward.
Prince Harry gets a telling off from Malala's mum
Back in 2014 at the We Day assembly at Wembley Arena, Harry gave a speech while attending the annual youth empowerment event, as well as meeting guests including schoolgirl Malala – who heroically stood up to the Taliban and defended her rights to education.
Co-founder of the event, Craig Kielburger, spoke to HELLO! about their encounter - and why Harry ended up being told off.
© Getty Images
Craig recalled: "Here is a funny but true story. I had the honour to introduce Prince Harry to Malala, the young girl who of course stood up against the Taliban.
"We were both backstage at We Day London. Malala, Your Highness so they met. Prince Harry put his arm around Malala for a photo and very loudly in the corner Malala’s mother in Urdu shouts 'No, no no,' which translated to 'Not unless you marry her can you touch her.'
"The Prince was so red in his face at that moment and he was clasping his hands in the front, Malala was so embarrassed."
© AFP via Getty Images
The pair then posed for a photo, which Craig likened to two teenagers going to the prom. "They posed like two teenagers would, no hands touching in a line-up getting ready to go to a prom. Every young woman’s dream, and I don’t think the Prince had ever been told that he can’t put his arm around someone," he said, adding that the scene was "incredibly sweet and endearing."
Harry and Meghan prepare for first official outing together
The Sussexes are expected to visit Nottingham on Thursday. It's a meaningful choice for the couple; they made their first joint appearance after announcing their engagement in Nottingham back in 2017.
They are due to visit a number of community projects, including Community Recording Studio (CRS).
© Getty Images
It will be Harry and Meghan's first royal-style engagement together since they returned to the UK after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
However, a letter sent on the King's instruction last month insisted that the couple should be viewed as "private citizens".
The missive spelt out the non-working royal status of the couple, and reiterate that they will still not be able to use titles of "His and Her Royal Highness".
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said at the time that the couple "were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance".
Nottinghamshire police will decide on the level of security provided during the visit as the couple continue to await the result of a review of their publicly funded protection by the royal and VIP executive committee.