Queen Elizabeth gives Meghan Markle pearl and diamond earrings for their first trip together
The Duchess of Sussex is marking an important royal first today: Her first solo engagement with Queen Elizabeth.
Meghan Markle, 36, and Queen Elizabeth, 92, traveled from London to Cheshire in the royal train for a day of engagements.
Her Majesty gifted Meghan a pair of pearl and diamond earrings for today's visit.
Meghan, who wed Queen Elizabeth's grandson, Prince Harry, on May 19, gushed about her life with her new husband.
When asked about married life, Meghan replied that it is "wonderful."
"I’m really enjoying it," she said. "He’s the best husband ever."
Meghan and Queen Elizabeth's first stop today was the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge.
Meghan, wearing a cream Givenchy dress by her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller, was seen sharing laughs with Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen and Meghan later visisted Storyhouse, a theater and library in Cheshire, where they met with children and watched a performance by a dance theater company for people in recovery from addiction.
Meghan appeared a bit nervous at her first solo engagement but took her lead from Queen Elizabeth. She was also supported by Samantha Cohen, the Queen's longtime assistant private secretary and one of her closest and most trusted courtiers, who recently moved over to run Meghan and Harry’s office.
Meghan could be seen turning to Cohen for guidance and advice during today's visit. Cohen was at her side to support Meghan and put her at ease.
The duo concluded their visit with lunch at Chester Town Hall.
Meghan's solo visit with Queen Elizabeth shows how warmly she has been embraced by the royal family.
Since her wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, Markle has attended a Buckingham Palace event to celebrate her father-in-law, Prince Charles, who walked her down the aisle at St. George's Chapel, and made a second high-profile appearance with the royal family.
Meghan stood out in an off-the-shoulder pink dress by Carolina Herrera on June 9 at Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of Queen Elizabeth's birthday.
Princess Kate accompanied Queen Elizabeth during her Diamond Jubilee tour for her first solo visit in March 2012, nearly 10 months after her April 2011 marriage to Prince William. The monarch and Kate traveled by train for the event but did not overnight on the royal train as Meghan is doing with Queen Elizabeth.
What's next for Harry and Meghan
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have jumped back into royal life since returning from their honeymoon earlier this month.
The couple will make an official visit to Australia, Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and New Zealand later this year.
Their tour will include a stop in Sydney in late October for the 2018 Invictus Games, the paralympic-style sporting event Harry founded for servicemen and women.
Meghan's first charitable patronage since becoming the fourth member of the Royal Foundation, started by William, Kate and Harry, is also expected to be announced soon by Kensington Palace.
While the palace has not given any indication how Meghan will focus her charitable work, given her previous interest in women’s empowerment, she may select a charity that benefits from her experience on that issue.
