It's Fab Four with the Markle Sparkle.
Kensington Palace just announced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will make their first official joint appearance with Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge next Wednesday, February 28.
The royals will attend the first annual Royal Foundation Forum and be appearing on stage together (!) to discuss its current projects and announce future plans.
The Royal Foundation was initially set up in 2009 by William and Harry and became fully operational by 2011 when Kate became an official patron. The royals started the foundation as a vehicle to oversee all their collective philanthropic activities under one umbrella which includes their Heads Together initiative which was created to de-stigmatize mental health issues and the Invictus Games, which Harry founded in 2014 in support of wounded service men and women.
Its official name is The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. After the wedding, it's likely its name will change to incorporate Meghan's name when she become a patron.
Prior to meeting Harry, Meghan was very involved in several charities and organizations supporting women and girls around the world including One World Vision. She also served as an UN Women ambassador. It remains to be seen how Meghan's interests will shape the foundation or if she will, at least for the moment, focus on the existing programs working along side her soon-to-be husband and in-laws.
During their first interview following their engagement both Meghan and Harry both expressed their strong desire to work together on charitable causes. At the time, Harry told the BBC, "We're a fantastic team. I know we are. And we hope to, over time, try and have as much impact for the things that we care about as much as possible."
No doubt royal watchers will also be scrutinizing their couples' joint appearance for cues about their relationship with one another.
The last time Meghan appeared with William and Kate was on Christmas Day at church. She appeared slightly nervous but managed a decent curtsy to the Queen and stopped to talk to well-wishers walking back after the service.
At the time, Harry and Meghan opted not to stay at the Queen's residence and instead bunked with William and Kate giving the two couples plenty of time to bond.
Harry is extremely close to his brother and has said he considers Kate to be "the sister he never had." Kate has reportedly been very involved in helping Meghan settle into her new life as a royal. "She's been wonderful," Meghan has said of her future sister-in-law.
It will also be only the second time Meghan and Kate will be photographed together which will undoubtedly lead to a fashion showdown in the press. The women have completely different styles. As the future queen, Kate generally gets high marks for her traditional tailored looks while Meghan has introduced the messy bun, bare legs and trousers into the royal wardrobe. William and Harry generally dress in dark suits or sweaters and jeans for such occasions, but it will matter little next week since all eyes will be on the two women who are transforming the monarchy.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and the author of Imagining Diana A Novel and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
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