Meghan Markle enjoyed a game night as she sat down to play mahjong on Monday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, took to her Instagram Story to document behind-the-scenes snippets of the tiles, as she took part in the popular strategy mind-sport thought to have originated in 19th century China.
It’s possible the mother-of-two was joined by her ‘Maj Squad’ – consisting of pals Tracy Robbins, Victoria Jackson and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh – as revealed in the first series of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan.
During episode six of the viewing, she had her pals over to play over tacos, ceviche and cocktails.
While it’s not clear if there was quite as ardent a spread this time around, one of Meghan’s friends appeared to sip on a glass of red wine during the gathering.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, in an new interview with PEOPLE Magazine, the Duchess’s close friend Vicky Tsai, also the founder of Tatcha skincare, shed light on Meghan and Prince Harry’s hobbies, revealing both enjoy playing mahjong and have taken up pickleball – an increasingly popular paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.
Speaking of Meghan, she said: ‘She’s really creative and curious. She enjoys things that you wouldn’t expect – like mahjong.
‘She’s constantly trying to pull me into her weekly mahjong group. And she and Harry are pretty passionate about pickleball. They are trying to convince me to join the group!’
Meghan Markle enjoyed a game night as she sat down to play mahjong on Monday. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, took to her Instagram Story to document behind-the-scenes snippets of the tiles, as she took part in the popular strategy mind-sport thought to have originated in 19th century China
It comes as, over the weekend, Meghan gave fans a rare glimpse inside the $14million mansion she shares with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in California.
The Duchess took to her Instagram account on Friday to show off what appeared to be her cosy living room in her Montecito home.
Sharing a clip on her Stories with her 4.2million followers, the mother-of-two showcased an elegant floral arrangement and her beagle, Mia, sleeping on a stunning cream armchair and matching cushioned footstool.
The eye-catching flowers were placed in a white stone vase, embellished with the logo from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.
However, PEOPLE magazine revealed that the product is a one-of-a-kind piece, created for the set of the Duchess’s Netflix show ‘With Love, Meghan’ – and the former actress has no official new homeware collection planned.
So far, Meghan’s brand has released jams, wines, teas and other food items, but Prince Harry’s wife has hinted in the past that she could expand her company into home goods and fashion, for instance.
In April, Meghan suggested to Inc magazine following her first As Ever launch that her brand could expand into other areas, saying: ‘I hope that people see that reflected in whatever it is that I’m creating and putting out there… It’s just an extension of me.’
The subtle hint to a potential new range wasn’t the only hidden detail in Meghan’s clip – she also included a royal nod.
It’s possible the mother-of-two was joined by her ‘Maj Squad’ – consisting of pals Tracy Robbins, Victoria Jackson and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh – as revealed in the first series of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan
The garden roses in her As Ever vase, which was placed on a chic side table next to the armchair, were wrapped in Queen Anne’s lace, the mother-of-two revealed.
She wrote in a caption on her Story: ‘Delphinium, Nigella, Veronica – meet As ever. With garden roses and Queen Anne’s lace (and a very sleepy Mia). Looking lovely, ladies,’ she said, referring to her flowers.
The Duchess’s cosy living room also included a brown and cream $2,000 Hermès throw.
Behind the comfortable armchair set-up, a stylish patio could also be glimpsed by fans – complete with a chic outdoor chair and table and a canopy of greenery.
This week, it was revealed that Meghan and Prince Harry are heading to New York City next month, where they will accept an award for their mental health advocacy.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been given the Project Healthy Minds’ Humanitarians of the Year Award in recognition of their campaigns to make the online world a safer place for families and young people, according to PEOPLE magazine.
They will reportedly accept the special honour at the nonprofit organisation’s World Mental Health Day Gala on October 9 in New York City, before stepping out for another engagement together the next day.
On October 10, the Montecito-based couple will attend Project Healthy Minds’ fourth annual World Mental Health Day Festival, where their Archewell Foundation is co-producing conversations with those making a difference in the mental health sector.
During episode six of the viewing, she had her pals over to play over tacos, ceviche and cocktails. While it’s not clear if there was quite as ardent a spread this time around, one of Meghan’s friends appeared to sip on a glass of red wine during the gathering
In episode six of series one of her show, Meghan sat down with her friends to play American Mahjong
In a statement to the publication, Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, said: ‘Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives.
‘As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them.
‘We’re proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.’
The couple set up their charity The Archewell Foundation in 2020 and launched an initiative aimed at tackling child safety online, called The Parents’ Network, in 2024.
The Daily Mail contacted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s representatives for comment.
Earlier this week, Meghan took to her brand’s Instagram account to share a glimpse of her ‘sweetest moments’ as she posed with her two pet dogs in a photo thought to be taken at her Montecito mansion.
Dressed in an elegant yellow maxi dress, featuring billowing sleeves and a cinched waist, the Duchess was captured looking away from the camera, towards two palm trees that she once revealed were representative of her and the Duke’s love story.
The caption of the As Ever post read: ‘Crisp air, blue skies, and the sweetest moments.’
Speaking to The Cut in 2022 while giving her once-favoured outlet a tour of her home, Meghan said the couple were drawn to the property because of the two Dr. Seussian palm trees that grew right in the center of the lawn.
‘One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees,’ she said. ‘See how they’re connected at the bottom? He goes, “My love, it’s us.”‘
She also revealed that their then three-year-old son would even talk to the trees like they were his parents, revealing: ‘Now every day when Archie goes by us, he says, “Hi, Momma. Hi, Papa.”‘
The latest As Ever promo appears to feature the palm trees that Meghan was referring to.
It comes after Meghan’s best friend shared a gushing post about her ‘nurturing’ and ‘loving’ pal – just days after the Duchess’s ‘number one fan’ turned against her.
Kelly McKee Zajfen, who has been friends with the Duchess of Sussex for more than 20 years and lives close by in California, was speaking in an Instagram Q&A session with her followers last night.
The former model, who originally met Meghan, 44, through her ex-husband Trevor Engelson, was asked about her favourite accounts to follow.
In position three, she listed the Duchess’s personal account, @meghan, adding that she is ‘endlessly inspired by her’.
A second question read: ‘How did you meet Meghan M?! Love seeing you two on here and the joy you bring out in each other.’
Kelly shared a sweet response and highlighted their close friendship over many years, writing: ‘Ahh thank you! I’ve actually known her for almost 20 years? She even came to my wedding (15 years ago) and she’s been the most amazing, nurturing, fun, loving human.
‘She’s been by my side especially since Georgie died and I cherish our friendship very much.’
Meghan has long supported her friend Kelly, who was bereaved in 2022 when her son George died suddenly at the age of nine after contracting a viral illness.
In the years since George’s tragic death, Meghan and Harry have attended several of Kelly’s charity events and initiatives in memory of the nine-year-old.
These included a charity tennis tournament last year in honour of George, which also took place around Prince Harry’s 40th birthday.
Kelly’s effusive praise of her close friend will come as much-needed support for the Duchess, just days after one of the most prominent ‘Sussex Squad’ (the term given to Meghan and Harry’s supporters) turned against her.
Stassi Schroeder an American TV personality and star of Vanderpump Rules, recently resigned from her position as Meghan’s ‘number one fan’ on her podcast after failing to receive a PR package from Meghan’s lifestyle brand – and even went to the lengths of unfollowing the duchess on Instagram.
When Meghan’s Netflix show, With Love Meghan, met a slew of negative reviews from critics, Stassi defended it, writing on Instagram, ‘Anyone complaining about this like they’re expecting this to be something they can relate to, that’s not the point,’ she said via Us.
‘I love this,’ the television personality added. ‘This is something I absolutely cannot f****** relate to.’
However, the reality TV star, podcaster, and author, 37, from Louisiana, has done a U-turn this month and declared to no longer support Meghan after she was glossed over on As Ever’s PR list.
Talking on podcast The One Where Stassi Is Still Drunk w/ Taylor Strecker, released September 10, Stassi explained how she was left off the list for receiving PR gifts from Meghan’s lifestyle brand, while other influencers in her circle managed to get their hands on the mailer.
Stassi said, ‘I literally defended her when no one else did.’ She continued, ‘I think that she is stuck in 2017 and she just thinks I’m a lowly reality TV person, and I am furious, and this is the last straw.
‘I’m not watching her show anymore, I’m not going to talk about her anymore. I’m going to unfollow her right now.’
