Meghan Markle returns to Vancouver charity advocating for teen girls living in poverty
Duchess of Sussex first met with Justice for Girls in 2020
The Duchess of Sussex returned to visit a Vancouver charity that helps teenage girls living in poverty on Monday.
It was Meghan Markle's second time visiting Justice for Girls (JFG) in three years, with the organization saying the duchess has been advocating for the rights of girls and women since she was a child herself.
"She was genuinely interested and invested in knowing about our work, connecting with teen girls, and talking to them about the realities they are facing," said Zoe Craig-Sparrow, a director with JFG, in a release.
The charity was founded in 1999 and since 2009 has had a special status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Markle, 42, first visited JFG in January 2020. The organization said since then she has remained connected to its work and it was "thrilled" to have the duchess back on Monday when she was in Vancouver with her husband, Prince Harry.
"Her warm demeanour and impressive understanding of the issues made for a very engaging discussion," said Craig-Sparrow. "She was genuinely interested and invested in knowing about our work, connecting with teen girls, and talking to them about the realities they are facing."
During the couple's visit to Vancouver, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, performed the ceremonial puck drop for a Canucks game at Rogers Arena on Monday night, as part of the lead-up to the 2025 Invictus Games.
Harry is the founder and the patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, which runs the international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick people who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces.
Rogers Arena will be the host venue for the closing ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games, which will be held in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. The games will take place Feb. 8-16, 2025.