HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton steal the show as Prince Harry’s fiancée makes first public appearance with the Queen as they attend Commonwealth Day service
MEGHAN Markle and Kate Middleton stole the show as Prince Harry's fiancee made her first public appearance alongside the Queen today.
Wearing a £900 white Amanda Wakeley coat, Meghan walked in alongside Harry while Kate could barely hide her growing baby bump.
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The Royals were closely followed by the Queen - attending Westminster Abbey for a service to mark Commonwealth Day.
The event is a public acknowledgement by the Queen of the US actress, who will soon be joining her family when she marries Prince Harry on May 19 at a chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
It was also attended by Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Theresa May.
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But Prince Philip, who has effectively retired from public duties, was nowhere to be seen.
In her Commonwealth Day message the Queen discussed a "Commonwealth connection" that allows people from different nations to bond and celebrate "diversity".
London will soon host a gathering of leaders from the "family of nations" and the Queen also paid tribute to the biennial event, an example of how consensus can "help to create a future that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous and sustainable".
In her message the Queen said: "Through exchanging ideas, and seeing life from other perspectives, we grow in understanding and work more collaboratively towards a common future.
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"There is a very special value in the insights we gain through the Commonwealth connection; shared inheritances help us overcome difference so that diversity is a cause for celebration rather than division.
"We shall see this in action at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which takes place in the United Kingdom next month, bringing together young people, business and civil society from across the Commonwealth.
"These gatherings are themselves fine examples of how consensus and commitment can help to create a future that is fairer, more secure, more prosperous and sustainable."
During the event Meghan between her fiance Harry and Prince Andrew.
Former One Direction band member Liam Payne performed during the service, and the reflection was given by Dr Andrew Bastawrous, an eye surgeon who turned a smartphone into an examination tool to combat avoidable blindness in developing counties.
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William faced criticism last year when he missed the service to attend his controversial lads-only skiing holiday in Verbier.
After the service, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan are expected to attend a private reception for those involved in the event.
The Commonwealth has played an important role throughout the Queen's reign, and she takes a special interest in the family of nations.
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Harry and Meghan signalled their commitment to the Commonwealth and its people when they both mentioned the institution - which has the Queen as its head - during an interview to mark their engagement.
The prince said they looked forward to travelling around the Commonwealth, meeting some of the 2.4 billion people from the 53 member states.
Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the UK and will be broadcast live by the BBC.
Other royal guests include the Duke of York, Princess Royal, Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra.
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Also among the 2,000 strong congregation is the prime minister of Malta Joseph Muscat, Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, high commissioners, ambassadors, senior politicians from across the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and more than 800 schoolchildren and young people.
Later that evening Charles, Camilla and William will be guests of Baroness Scotland at a reception at Marlborough House, the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the institution's civil service.
Inspired by Kate
MEGHAN chose a look that could be straight from Kate’s wardrobe.
She wore an £895 cream Amanda Wakeley coat over a navy pencil dress.
But it’s a fashion faux-pas to arrive wearing the same as someone else. So why were she and Kate in near identical shoes?
Thank goodness for the Stephen Jones cream beret, a stylish addition that gave Meg’s outfit much needed “je ne sais quoi”.
By Joely Chilcott
Liam Payne perform for the Queen and Meghan Markle amid relationship troubles -
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