Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance to support a good cause.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, came as an unexpected guest at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles 2024 Gala on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Her visit was a pleasant surprise for the event, held every two years to honor CHLA’s patients and the dedicated pediatric staff, which includes some of California’s top physicians, researchers, and caregivers, as stated on the organization’s website.
The Duchess looked astonishing in a red Carolina Herrera gown, which she had previously worn to the Salute to Freedom gala in New York in 2021, as she walked the red carpet hand in hand with Alliance of Moms founder Kelly Mckee Zajfen.
Her husband, Prince Harry, was not in attendance, as he has been in the African Kingdom of Lesotho this week.
In an interview shared on social media during the event, Meghan praised Children’s Hospital L.A., where she led a Literally Healing session in March by reading favorite books to young patients, calling it the “best place in the world” for children to receive treatment.
“Oh my goodness, the work they do at Children’s Hospital L.A. is otherworldy, and I think from my standpoint as a mother, no one wants to be in a position where you need to go to a place like this, but if you have to, the best place in the world you could go would be Children’s Hospital L.A.,” she said.
“The staff is incredible, and the amount of work they do for families that really could not afford this level of care is something that I think should never be overlooked,” the Duchess of Sussex continued.
“So I’m just grateful for everything they do,” she said, adding that she was, “happy to be here to support.”
During the evening, Meghan took photos with a family whose children are patients at the hospital, crouching down to engage with the kids as she chatted with them.
She also took a moment to speak with their father. Inside the rooftop event, Meghan was all smiles as she greeted and conversed with a group of nurses from the hospital, making sure to connect with each of them and even taking selfies together.
Later, she was escorted out of the event through a side door by a staff member, but she took the time to chat with anyone who stopped her on her way out.
The hospital gala was hosted by Joy Cryer and Lisa Joyner, honoring television producer and writer Chuck Lorre, former boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard and his wife Bernadette, along with Aeg.
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