The Duchess of Sussex celebrated her 40th birthday yesterday and, in celebration, shared a video announcing her new 40x40 mentorship programme for women returning to the workforce post Covid-19.
There are plenty of details to enjoy in the video, recorded in Meghan's home office – her dog Guy in the background, the astrological sign necklaces she wore for each of her children, and Prince Harry juggling in the backdrop, to name just three – but one detail has really got people talking: speculation that the couple shared the first photo of baby Lilibet.
On Meghan's desk a collection of family photographs can be seen.
One is a colour photograph that appears to be son, Archie, 2, and in front is a collection of smaller miniature gold frames containing black and white images. The middle one seems to show Prince Harry kissing a baby, which many have assumed is Lilibet, who was born on June 4.
The couple have not shared an official photo of the tot since she was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California earlier this summer.
Since stepping back as senior royals, the couple have been very guarded when revealing details about their children. They did, however, feature Archie during the filming of their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, and released an image of the child holding balloons to celebrate his second birthday in May.
Meghan's 40x40 initiative
The duchess announced her latest humanitarian project on her birthday.
The programme is designed to help mentor women around the world who are returning to the workforce. The duchess has enlisted 40 friends to offer women 40 minutes of their time. Mentors include poet Amanda Gorman, social activist Gloria Steinem, singer Adele, fashion designer Stella McCartney, chef Jose Andres and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, the wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.
To launch the initiative, she spoke to actress Melissa McCarthy, who joined the conversation in a Bridgerton-style outfit, with a cup of milky tea – a nod to Meghan's royal status.
In the tongue-in-cheek video, McCarthy suggests ways to celebrate Meghan's birthday, including a Suits reunion, a yacht party and matching "best friend" tattoos. Meghan turns her down, pitching instead her 40x40 initiative.
“Here’s the idea, because I’m turning 40, I’m asking 40 friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to help mentor a women who is mobilising back into the workforce,” Meghan tells her actress friend.
“Over two million women, in the US alone, and tens of million around the world, have lost their jobs due to Covid. [So] I think we all do it, and all commit 40 minutes to some kind of active service, we can create a ripple effect.”
“You in?” she asks McCarthy, who replies: “Yes, times 40, 40 40 40 … and then 40 times I say yes.”
The duchess is believed to have celebrated her 40th birthday in California with her husband, Prince Harry, and their two children.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The White Lotus: Season three
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
