Meghan Markle Sent a Heartfelt Message to the Grenfell Community Kitchen

On the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people in west London, Meghan Markle sent a message to the Hubb Community Kitchen.

london, england november 21 meghan, duchess of sussex with chef clare smyth r and kitchen co ordinator zaheera sufyaan 2l as she visits the hubb community kitchen to see how funds raised by the together our community cookbook are making a difference at al manaar, north kensington on november 21, 2018 in london, england photo by chris jacksongetty images
(Image credit: Chris Jackson)

Sunday, June 14 was the third anniversary of the devastating Grenfell Tower disaster, in which 72 people—predominantly working class people of color—were killed as a fire tore through an apartment building in Kensington, west London. In the wake of the disaster, women who lost their homes began to cook at the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, ultimately founding the Hubb Community Kitchen to prepare food for the displaced local community.

Meghan Markle, a longterm supporter of the Hubb Community Kitchen, has visited on numerous occasions, and spoke to members Leila Hedjem, Cherine Mallah, Halima Al-Hudafi, Oxana Sinitsyna, and Jennifer Odonkor over Zoom in April, after they launched a new initiative to deliver food to families amid the coronavirus lockdown. She also wrote the foreword to the 2018 cookbook Together: Our Community Cookbook, which raised over half a million pounds for the kitchen. On Sunday, as the Evening Standard reports, the Duchess of Sussex sent a heartfelt audio message to its volunteers, calling them "the example of love in action."

"I think back to when I met all of you and how you had all come together in the wake of what you experienced in your community," Meghan said in the audio message. "And now what you have done is such an inspiration—you continue to give back, you continue to to put love in action. And that’s really what Hubb is all about...we know it means love but you are the example of love in action, and that is your purpose."

"I’m so proud of you, so is Harry, and we are sending so much love to you from across the pond and thinking of you today," Meghan continued. "I'm sure it’s a difficult day, but also one where you can look at how much you’ve accomplished in the past three years, and how you continue to give back and be an example for all of those around you."

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here

RELATED STORIES
Emily Dixon
Morning Editor

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.