Months after being minted the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle is finally stepping out of her husband Prince Harry's shadow.
The former actress has finally revealed her first solo project as a member of the royal family and it's a reflection of some of the most important things she always stood for, including empowering women, supporting communities, diversity, and togetherness.
The Kensington Palace recently announced that the 37-year-old is "supporting a new charity cookbook, Together: Our Community Cookbook, which celebrates the power of cooking to bring communities together."
According to a statement from the palace, the cookbook "showcases over 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire."
Dubbed the worst fire in British history, the 24-storey Grenfell Tower burst into flames on June 13, 2017 and claimed the lives of 72 people. While 223 people escaped unscathed, at least 70 people were rushed to the hospital with severe injuries.
In the months that followed the tragedy, a group of women started cooking together in a communal kitchen at Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre in West London. Not only did this become a support group of sorts, it also made it possible for those who have been displaced by the fire to enjoy fresh home-cooked meals often.
Earlier this year, as Meghan was settling into London, she visited the Hubb Community Kitchen.
"I immediately felt connected to this community kitchen; it is a place for women to laugh, grieve, cry and cook together," she said in the statement.
The duchess spearheaded the idea of a cookbook whose sales will hopefully help keep the kitchen open seven days a week, and also support other related projects. She was "inspired by how the project empowers women at a grassroots level."
"Melding cultural identities under a shared roof, it creates a space to feel a sense of normalcy "“ in its simplest form, the universal need to connect, nurture, and commune through food, through crisis or joy "“ something we can all relate to," Meghan added.
The newest royal has written the foreword for the book and will be opening up her home for the launch party.
"Our hope is that within these pages you will find new recipes and family favorites that you can enjoy in your own homes, because these recipes aren't simply meals; they are stories of family, love, of survival and of connection," she wrote in the book.
This project is fitting for Meghan, who previously discussed her commitment to women's empowerment and "lifelong interest in the story of food" on her former lifestyle blog The Tig.
The book, which comes out on September 25, is currently available to pre-order on Amazon, and has already made it to the top of the online retailer's best seller list.
Click here to secure your copy and be one of the first to get access to all the wonderful Meghan Markle-approved recipes.
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