Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry have stepped out in Los Angeles to visit a charity project and help with some baking and cooking.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dropped in to Homeboy Industries this week, the organization revealed in a series of photos posted to Instagram. The pictures show the couple in a group portrait with staff and volunteers, and feature shots of them making pastry and putting meals together. Everyone is wearing masks. They were taking part in the #FeedHOPE program, which helps provide nutritious meals to seniors and youth in Los Angeles who are food insecure during the coronavirus pandemic.
"The Duke and Duchess connect deeply to Homeboy's mission to welcome all people into a community of mutual kinship and love, focused on healing and contributing to the wellbeing of families and communities," a source told Town & Country. "To them, Homeboy is a perfect example of how empathy, kindness, and compassion can change the world."
Homeboy Industries helps those who have spent time in prison or who are looking to leave gangs and organized crime. It also offers counselling, education, legal assistance, addiction recovery support and more. It is run by Father Greg Boyle, who worked with Immaculate Heart, Meghan's former Los Angeles high school.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were just 'Harry and Meghan' to the homies," Greg said in a statement. "They rolled up their sleeves and deeply engaged with our workers in the Bakery and Cafe. It was immediate kinship and heartening in its mutuality."
"It was remarkable to share our Feed Hope program with Harry and Meghan today," Mariana Enriquez, the Homegirl Cafe's manager, said in a statement. "They are both down to earth and kind. The staff was honoured they took time to see us, hear us and walk on our journey today. We will never forget it."
Earlier on June 24, it was revealed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had signed with Harry Walker Agency to handle their speaking arrangements. The firm's clients include Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
Michelle and Barack Obama are two of Harry Walker Agency's clients. Photo: © Mark Wilson/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Times reports Harry and Meghan are set to focus on key causes that are very important to them, such as racial justice and equality, the rights of women and girls, mental health and the environment and conservation.
Harry and Meghan have also been working on launching their non-profit, Archewell, though a report emerged earlier this month that they were postponing doing so for the time being. The Telegraph stated the couple do not plan to make any "public announcements" about the organization "for the foreseeable future" and will not engage in any "official Archewell projects until next year."
They are said to be concentrating their efforts on Black Lives Matter and supporting the work of their patronages and other key causes through the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, a story also emerged saying the couple had been meeting with community representatives and organizers in light of the Black Lives Matter protests and other racial justice demonstrations that have been taking place after the death of George Floyd. Meghan also addressed the deaths of George, Breonna Taylor and many other Black Americans "whose names we don't know" during a video speech to the graduating class at her former high school, Immaculate Heart, in Los Angeles.
"You are going to have empathy for those who don't see the world through the same lens that you do, because as diverse and vibrant and open-minded as I know that the teachings of the Immaculate Heart are, I know that you know that Black Lives Matter," she said in the clip.