Meghan Markle masks up to cheer patients at LA children’s hospital
Meghan Markle has popped up to surprise young patients at a Los Angeles hospital.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, put on a mask as she joined children for painting and craft activities.
Meghan, who also spent time with young patients in their rooms, had not promoted the event herself – it was Children’s Hospital Los Angeles who took to their Instagram to share images of Meghan on the wards.
It came as her Harry and Meghan’s documentary about girl scouts selling cookies has been purchased by an independent production firm.
Netflix has first refusal on Archewell Productions projects but appears to have passed on Cookie Queens
‘Today we were honored to welcome LA’s own @meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to CHLA’s Creative Oasis, where she spent time painting alongside our incredible patients,’ the hospital captioned the photos.
‘These special moments are a reminder of how powerful creativity can be in fostering joy, connection, and healing.’
Duchess supports children’s hospital charity campaign
Her visit to the hospital is part of an annual fundraiser set up by the organisation called Make March Matter – a campaign supporting lifesaving care and research that happens daily at the hospital.
It comes after a documentary produced by Harry and Meghan’s Archwell Productions was purchased by an independent production company.
The US rights to Cookie Queens – a story about the tradition of Girl Scouts cookies – have been bought by Roadside Attractions, according to Variety magazine.
The Sussexes had previously offered Netflix the documentary, which was shown at Sundance Film Festival.
The film was described as ‘a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season’.
Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal scaled back to first-look agreement
Last year, Harry and Meghan signed a watered-down first-look deal with Netflix, which gave the streaming giant first option on projects by Archewell Productions.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s lifestyle firm As Ever, which sells jams, herbal teas and chocolates, was revealed to have ended its partnership with Netflix this month.
A source close to her claimed she felt Netflix was too ‘cautious’ and she was happy to take ‘complete control’ of her jam empire.
The Duchess of Sussex apparently felt that ending their partnership after less than a year would allow her jams and candles to ‘go global’.
Of her documentary, Cookie Queens, Meghan previously said: ‘As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film.’
She described it as ‘one of the most powerful and meaningful depictions of something that is an American tradition and rooted in nostalgia’.
Archewell Productions partnered with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films on the documentary and Harry and Meghan were its executive producers.
It was directed by Alysa Nahmias, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and is set to appear at the SXSW (South by South West) music and film festival and then open in cinemas over the summer.
Meghan Markle to headline $1,800 luxury ‘girls’ weekend’ retreat in Australia
Meghan Markle will headline a £1,400 ($1.8k) ‘girls’ weekend’ in Australia, where she will deliver a gala dinner speech and pose for photos with VIP guests.
Up to 300 guests will be welcomed to the three-day luxury retreat in Sydney from April 17 to 19, during her trip to the country with the Duke of Sussex.
Meghan was invited to star as the event’s headline speaker after reaching out to the organiser, Her Best Life podcast host Gemma O’Neill, through a mutual friend.
VIP ticket holders who pay £1,700 ($2.2k) will get front-row seats and the chance to pose for a group table photo with the Duchess.
Guests will also indulge in morning yoga classes, a ‘sound healing’ experience, a meditation and manifestation session at the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach hotel.
An advert for the event reads: ‘A girls’ weekend like no other! An unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun.
‘Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences.’
Gemma O’Neill, founder and presenter of Her Best Life, announced the news to her listeners on the podcast on Wednesday.
She said: ‘I have admired [Meghan] and what she has endured… and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise.
‘She’s doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, try to be their best selves and trying to help other women,’ O’Neill added.
