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The Duchess of Sussex drew clear inspiration from Angelina Jolie during her recent visit to Jordan, where she joined Prince Harry for a two-day trip focused on mental health and aid to vulnerable groups affected by conflict and displacement. This visit, arranged by the World Health Organisation, saw Meghan embrace an understated style both in fashion and demeanor, echoing the approach of the acclaimed actress and humanitarian.
Low-Key Fashion Choices Mirror Angelina Jolie’s Practical Style
Throughout the trip, Meghan adopted a more casual, pared-back wardrobe suitable for the mission’s serious nature. On Thursday morning, during a visit to the National Centre for Rehabilitation of Addicts, she wore a grey wool-blend jacket from Zara, paired with black suit trousers and heels. This choice followed her earlier appearance in a khaki Zara T-shirt for a football session, marking her second endorsement of the Spanish brand on this trip. She notably avoided her usual sparkling jewelry, choosing only her gold wedding band and Cartier Love bracelet, reflecting the practical simplicity associated with Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian attire.
Shared Commitment to Refugee Support and Child Welfare
Meghan’s outfits at the Za’atari refugee camp included white shirts and T-shirts reminiscent of those Jolie wore while visiting Iraqi Kurdish refugee camps in Domiz. However, the resemblance extended beyond clothing; Meghan appeared to emulate Jolie’s empathetic demeanor during humanitarian missions. Angelina Jolie, recognized for more than 60 humanitarian trips supporting displaced individuals, co-founded the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation to aid community conservation efforts. Similarly, Meghan and Harry’s Archewell Foundation shares a focus on community and humanitarian causes.
Both women emphasize childhood and education in their charity work. For example, Jolie started the Jolie Legal Fellowship in Haiti, while the Sussexes provided funding for the tuition-free Marcy Lab School in Brooklyn, an alternative one-year fellowship program for software engineering.
Meaningful Encounters with Refugees and Patients in Jordan
During the visit, Meghan showed warmth and compassion, especially when holding hands with Maria, a 14-year-old burn victim from Gaza, at the Specialty Hospital in Amman. The Sussexes engaged with medical professionals and patients, witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by displaced and vulnerable populations. At the QuestScope youth center near Mafraq’s Za’atari refugee camp, the couple observed a music class and joined in a football session with young refugees, showcasing their commitment to mental health and community support.
Collaborations with Global Aid and Health Organisations
The royal couple also participated in a roundtable discussion in Amman with representatives from the United Nations, diplomatic officials, and donors. Their visit was welcomed warmly by WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who greeted them with a hug and kiss outside the organisation’s Amman office, highlighting the strong partnership between the Sussexes and global health agencies. Meghan’s attire here continued the low-key theme, wearing a white jacket and matching trousers.
Supporting Mental Health Initiatives at Jordan’s Rehabilitation Centre
On the second day, Harry and Meghan visited the National Centre for Rehabilitation of Addicts, an institution under Jordan’s Ministry of Health operating since 2001, providing medical withdrawal, psychological assistance, and social counseling to recovering addicts. Both wrote encouraging notes on a wall dedicated to patient support; Meghan’s message read,
“Congratulations on your dedication to your care. Wishing you continued healing and happiness,”
while Harry’s stated,
“It’s OK to not be OK. Trust each other. Congratulations on your recovery. Now share your courage and experience.”
This visit highlighted the couple’s focus on mental health, a critical need in communities affected by conflict and displacement.
Engagement with World Central Kitchen and Food Distribution Efforts
Earlier, the Sussexes toured the regional headquarters of World Central Kitchen in Amman, an organisation founded by chef Jose Andres that distributes meals to populations in crisis, including nearly half of Gaza’s residents. During the visit, Harry and Meghan connected via video with a field kitchen leader in Gaza, Wadhah Hubaishi, who explained the ongoing logistical challenges in providing food aid.
“Within two hours, we will start distributing the food,”
he said, emphasizing the reliance on supplies coming through Egypt, with trucks still not arriving in sufficient numbers to meet demand.
Parallels Between Meghan Markle and Angelina Jolie’s Humanitarian Missions
The close alignment between Meghan Markle and Angelina Jolie extends beyond their choice of attire to their humanitarian values and the hands-on nature of their visits. Both actresses have engaged directly with vulnerable populations, demonstrating empathy through personal interaction and sustained advocacy. Jolie’s extensive history of field missions and foundation work provides a blueprint which Meghan has visibly followed on this tour in Jordan, particularly in supporting refugees, victims of conflict, and those battling addiction.
Significance of the Sussexes’ Jordan Visit and What Lies Ahead
This invitation from the WHO and the ensuing engagements underline the Sussexes’ continuing commitment to humanitarian causes despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Their partnership with major international organizations and dedication to mental health, community resilience, and refugee welfare may inspire increased global attention and resources to these issues. Meghan’s evident admiration for Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian approach suggests a merging of advocacy styles that highlights compassion and accessible leadership. As the Sussexes continue their work, their actions in Jordan signal a hopeful but cautious step towards supporting displaced and marginalized communities in fragile regions.