Meghan Markle Wrote Messages on Bananas at a Sex Worker Nonprofit

In Bristol on Friday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dropped into a sex workers' nonprofit unannounced, where Markle left messages of hope and love for women seeking to free themselves from street sex work.

Happy, Facial expression, Gesture, White-collar worker, Conversation, Laugh, Businessperson,
(Image credit: Getty Images)

When Meghan Markle moved to England and married Prince Harry, she dedicated herself to a life of service—something she clearly feels strongly about, considering all her work for Grenfell fire victims and women's rights in just her first year. In Bristol on Friday, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dropped into a sex workers' nonprofit unannounced, where Markle left messages of hope and love for women seeking to free themselves from street sex work. Literally—she left messages on bananas.

Hannah Furness, a royal correspondent, tweeted : "During a tour of the kitchen, the Duchess said: “I have an idea. I saw this project this woman had started somewhere in the States on a school lunch programme. On each of the bananas she wrote an affirmation, to make the kids feel really, like, empowered...It was the most incredible idea – this small gesture.”Announcing “I am in charge of the banana messaging!”, she wrote a series of messages on the bananas to say: “You are strong”, “You are loved”, “You are brave”, “You are special.”"

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The women helped by the charity, One 25, will receive Meghan's messages on bananas in the bags of food the nonprofit will give them later today. (Sorry to ruin it for you, guys.)

Here are some of the bananas Meghan left messages on:

Banana, Banana family, Plastic, Plant,

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"You are strong." "You are brave." "You are loved." Each banana message was left with a heart symbol, to show that Meghan is sending her love to the victims of coerced sex work (a very different situation from consensual sex work, FYI—coerced street sex work bears more resemblance to sex trafficking.)

The visit by Meghan and Harry came unannounced, suggesting that the royals wanted to keep this visit low-key, as well as to protect Meghan, who is expecting her first child this spring, with extra security measures.

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Here's Meghan and Harry meeting with Anna Smith, CEO of the charity:

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

And here she is writing the messages:

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

As an FYI, Meghan is doing all this work in a single day while heavily pregnant and wearing heeled boots. I haven't even left my apartment today?

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Jenny Hollander
Digital Director

Jenny is the Digital Director at Marie Claire. Originally from London, she moved to New York in 2012 to attend the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and never left. Prior to Marie Claire, she spent five years at Bustle building out its news and politics coverage. She loves, in order: her dog, goldfish crackers, and arguing about why umbrellas are fundamentally useless. Her first novel, EVERYONE WHO CAN FORGIVE ME IS DEAD, will be published by Minotaur Books on February 6, 2024.