Empowering women to return to the workforce is a natural fit for the Duchess of Sussex. Omid Scobie reports.
She’s long been an advocate for women’s rights. And now, the Duchess of Sussex is using her role in the Royal Family to empower unemployed women and help them get back to work.
Today, Kensington Palace announced four patronages for Duchess Meghan, including Smart Works, a charity that helps women get jobs by cultivating their interview skills and providing professional clothes to boost their confidence. The palace statement followed months of Meghan secretly visiting the organization’s north London headquarters. During her first trip last March, she took meetings with Smart Works execs and privately coached clients of the program as a volunteer.
Smart Works founder and former Vogue UK fashion editor Juliet Hughes-Hallett fondly recalls Meghan’s first visit, telling BAZAAR.com, “Instantly she wanted get stuck in… She’s really good at showing empathy, making the women feel safe and know they’re not going to have anyone’s will imposed upon them.
“She really fits in and it’s always really fun when she comes, which is a wonderful thing to be able to say,” Hallett said.
Read more “She Really Gets It”: How Duchess Meghan Is Changing Lives with Her First Patronage
