Pregnant Duchess Meghan returns to work with growing bump
<p>Duchess Meghan is back to work after a relaxing Christmas and New Year break as she visited women at Smart Works in London.</p>
<p>Before making an appearance, the 37-year-old was named the charity’s new Royal Patron as well as becoming the Patron of the National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.</p>
<p>Both of those roles will be handed down by The Queen.</p>
<p>The Duchess arrived at the women’s charity with her growing baby bump on Thursday morning, as she appeared polished and simple. Her makeup was done in her usual minimal fashion, and her hair was styled in a slicked back bun.</p>
<p>Meghan was greeted by Juliet Hughes-Hallett, the founder of Smart Works and took part in a panel with other volunteers on how to further help over 11,000 unemployed women as they make their way into the working world.</p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BsddSNIlM76/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">The Duchess of Sussex visits @smartworkscharity, after this morning’s announcement Her Royal Highness will be its Patron. The charity helps long term unemployed and vulnerable women regain the skills, confidence and tools to succeed at job interviews, return to employment and transform their lives. After dropping into a roundtable discussion with volunteers and clients, The Duchess met some of the women who have been successful in their interviews after being coached at @smartworkscharity. Many of these women have come from prison, job centres, care homes and homeless shelters – where they have been unsuccessful in over 20 applications. Several women shared their stories with The Duchess today and told HRH how the charity has given the self-belief to improve their lives.📷PA</a></p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Jan 10, 2019 at 8:11am PST</p>
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<p>This isn’t the first time the royal has visited the organisation, as since becoming an official member of the royal family, the Duchess has met with the women a number of times before.</p>
<p>The charity organisation focuses on dressing and coaching 3,500 women across the UK so they can gather the confidence to land a job.</p>
<p>Meghan also helped style a woman named Patsy as she prepared for a job interview.</p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BseNRFiBrsm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by womensweeklymag (@womensweeklymag)</a> on Jan 10, 2019 at 3:10pm PST</p>
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<p>The Duchess of Sussex was beaming with joy as she walked through the racks of clothes and accessories, while meeting many women in need along the way.</p>
<p>One of those women was Ruma, who was unemployed for close to a year before nabbing a part-time job.</p>
<p>She visited the charity as she needed new outfits for her job.</p>
<p>In regard to the Royal appointment, Juliet said: “We are thrilled to announce that The Duchess of Sussex will become the Royal Patron of Smart Works.</p>
<p>“An acknowledged champion of women and their rights worldwide, The Duchess will motivate ever more women to come to our centres and get the job that will transform their lives.</p>
<p>“The Duchess’s patronage will inspire the women we serve and help them reach for the stars.”</p>