How The Duchess of Sussex ‘Snuck In’ And Made A Surprise Visit?
The Duchess of Sussex surprised a group of young actors during her first visit to the National Theatre on Wednesday. Meghan dressed to impress, with a £2,004 nude tailored blazer with matching £1,728 v-neck mini dress by designer Brandon Maxwell.
She looked absolutely gorgeous, finishing off her look with a £768.93 Carolina Herrera clutch bag, and her classic £440 Aquazzura Matilde heels, the same that she wore on the day she announced her engagement to Prince Harry.
This year Meghan took up four new patrons from the Queen, making this visit to the National Theatre her first ever as an official patron.
During her visit, the Duchess got the chance to talk to pupils from Edith Neville Primary School in Camden, after watching their performance from the backstage without them knowing.
The Duchess said: “You guys did an amazing job when I saw you perform right before Christmas.
“I snuck in and watched. It was great, I didn’t want to leave.”
The students had no idea that Meghan was watching their theatre play, but was just simply told that a “VIP” guest was present.
One of the students, Tahmina Begum, 10, said: “Meghan knows how it feels for us as she used to be an actress, so I hope she was impressed by what she saw.”
Another pupil Kroni Pacolli, 10, added: “We didn’t know who was coming, just that it was a VIP.
“I thought maybe it was the Duke of Edinburgh or George Ezra. But then when they said it was a female VIP I thought ‘Yes!’ Rita Ora!”
Being a patron for the National Theatre is a perfect fit for Meghan, with her work in the past in show business and as a former actress. Rufus Norris, the National Theatre’s art director agrees completely, saying that she is a “very natural fit” for the institution.
Speaking to young actors, Meghan said: “It’s unbelievable to be out on stage, that whole sense of self that comes out, just so wonderful.”
During her visit, she also met with carpenters, metalworkers and other craftsmen that work on the sets for future theatre productions.
She told them: From all diverse technical backgrounds, you are all coming together to make one thing. It’s so wonderful.”
When asked if the Duchess would come back to watch a theatre production after she gives birth in spring, Mr Norris said: “That’s absolutely a matter for Kensington Palace but obviously she’s got her own production coming up.
“We are completely delighted to have the duchess as our patron and look forward enormously to working with her and to seeing her as often as she’s got time for.
“It’s a natural fit because she knows what a rehearsal room is, she knows what dressing rooms are and is passionate about the impact the arts can have.”
“The Duchess is a very dynamic new member of the Royal Family and so there is a lot of interest around her, and I think particularly because this relationship makes absolute sense for us and for her.”
Mr Norris joked: “[For] some shows, the queues start at 4 or 5 in the morning, so we’ll take her out a coffee.”