She left in 2020 but Princess Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex’s work is still paying off for the Roayl Foundation. As per annual report 2023, her 2018 project, Together: Our Community Cookbook ,continues to bring in the money which are used in grants to varoious UK charities that are close to Meghan’s heart. When Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, embarked on her first solo project as a royal, she chose a cause close to her heart: community and togetherness. This project, Together: Our Community Cookbook, was more than just a collection of recipes; it was a beacon of hope and unity for a community deeply affected by tragedy.

The Birth of the Cookbook

In the aftermath of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed 72 lives, a group of women from the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which claimed 72 lives, a group of women from the local community came together at the Al-Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. They found solace and strength in cooking together, sharing their stories, and supporting one another. This group became known as the Hubb Community Kitchen—‘Hubb’ meaning ‘love’ in Arabic.

Meghan Markle, who had a passion for food and community from her days running the lifestyle blog The Tig, felt an immediate connection to this initiative. She visited the kitchen, cooked with the women, and listened to their stories. Inspired by their resilience and unity, she decided to support them by creating a cookbook that would showcase their recipes and raise funds to keep the kitchen running.

Together: Our Community Cookbook

Launched in September 2018, Together: Our Community Cookbook features over 50 recipes from the women of the Hubb Community Kitchen. The book celebrates the power of cooking to bring people together, melding cultural identities under a shared roof. It includes a foreword by Meghan herself, where she writes about the universal need to connect, nurture, and commune through food.

The cookbook was an instant success, raising crucial funds for the Hubb Community Kitchen. The proceeds from the book were administered by The Royal Foundation, benefiting not only the kitchen but also enabling similar community projects to thrive⁴

Continuing Impact

The success of the cookbook has had a lasting impact. The funds raised have been used to support various community initiatives, including grants to organizations like The Felix Project, which works to tackle food waste and hunger in London⁵. This ongoing support ensures that the spirit of togetherness and community continues to flourish, providing a lasting legacy of Meghan’s first royal project.

Furthermore, in the financial year 2023, The Together: Our Community Cookbook was able to raise 100 thousand US Dollars and it was the only project to raise such highest among the royal foundation projects despite little to no promotions and regardless of Princess Meghan leaving the UK five years ago.