Meghan enjoying ‘exciting’ mix of royal duties and motherhood

The Duchess of Sussex spoke about enjoying the pressures of being a working mother as she met a dozen female entrepreneurs at an event in Cape Town.

Meghan said she finds juggling royal duties with looking after baby Archie “a lot”, but added: “It’s all so exciting.”

She met several women who have set up their own businesses in industries such as technology, conservation and fashion and praised them for “empowering the next generation” of creative minds.

Speaking to mother-of-two Lara Rosmarin, chief executive of Cape Innovation and Technology, Meghan said: “It must be a lot to juggle. We’re only five months in right now. Being a working mum and travelling as well with a baby, my goodness it’s a lot, but it’s all so exciting.

“There are days when it’s a lot to juggle but then you meet someone and you have an impact on them and you say ‘ah-ha’, and it’s so rewarding.”

Ms Rosmarin said: “I think the duchess really understood the pressures on working women, which was so appreciated.

“She is a working mother herself and mixing that in with all the travelling and projects she has, it’s inspiring for other women and young people to see that she is making such a success out of her life and helping others with her charitable endeavours.”

Meghan, 38, said she found the concept of a company called Relate, founded by Lauren Gills, “fascinating”.

The non-profit NGO employs women from disadvantaged backgrounds across South Africa to make bracelets for good causes and was inspired by the Lance Armstrong cancer awareness armband and how it connected people both to a cause and each other.

Mrs Gills said: “We started off with an idea and from that initial crowdfunding we have now raised £3.5 million from the sale of 3.5 million bracelets that we put back into communities empowering women from disadvantaged communities.

“The work they do is reflected right back into their own community and that really is the difference to helping alleviate their struggles.”

Meghan said: “I find that so fascinating, it’s such an interesting concept, by empowering these women from those backgrounds they are changing the focus of their communities and empowering the next generation.”

The Ladies Who Launch event took place at the Woodstock Exchange, a technology hub that focuses on highlighting the skills and mentorship of female entrepreneurs changing the landscape of employment in South Africa.

The programme brings together a cross-section of female entrepreneurs, investors and corporate decision makers to let start-ups tap into a network of success to help their businesses flourish.

In March, Meghan joined a panel discussion convened by The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust to mark International Women’s Day, featuring female business and charity leaders.

The panellists discussed the obstacles that still affect female empowerment across the world today, and the positive opportunities that come when women are given wider access.

After the discussion in South Africa, Meghan posed for pictures and accepted a Relate bracelet which she put on, and was also given a smaller one for Archie.

A large crowd of well-wishers sang to the duchess as she left the building.

They changed the words to well-known song African Dream to suit their new “African Queen”.

Around 50 women sang: “African queen, there’s a new tomorrow, African queen, a dream we can follow.”