When Meghan Markle was snapped at last night a Beyoncé concert in Los Angeles with actress Kerry Washington and singer Kelly Rowland, some speculated the former royal family’s Hollywood comeback was complete.
Meghan was in attendance at SoFi Stadium for Beyoncé’s third of three dates on her Renaissance world tour. Last Friday she was also at the first performance with Prince Harry.
However, it was yesterday’s glamorous photo, in which the three women posed together, that excited many celebrity viewers.
But the photo, which shows Kerry, Kelly and Meghan standing shoulder to shoulder as they smile for the camera, doesn’t mark their first meeting.
While the exact date the 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex first met one of the two stars is unknown, photos show that the royal family has known the other two for nearly a decade.
Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland and Meghan Markle pose for a photo at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
In a 2013 photo, Meghan poses with Kerry Washington at a party in New York City.
The event, believed to be in honor of actor Kerry who appeared on the cover of Elle magazine, took place at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria.
At the time, she was playing the lead role of Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal – a performance for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Emmys.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle played the role of Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, which she joined for the pilot episode in 2011.
While Kerry’s performance was praised by critics, it also struck a chord with Meghan, who praised the star in a 2016 interview.
During the chat, Meghan was asked to reveal her “ultimate talent crush,” to which the Suits actor responded, “Kerry Washington. She is amazing.’
In response to Meghan’s kind words two years later, during a 2018 interview ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry, Kerry said, “That’s great.
“She’s so beautiful and so talented, and I’m so happy for her. I’m so happy for the opportunities that await her… I’m so happy for her, because the marriage is great, so welcome to the club, girl!’
An image from 2014 New York Fashion Week shows Meghan Markle (left) posing with Kelly Rowland (right) and stylist and journalist Joe Zee
Kerry admitted that her mother woke her up early as a small child to watch the royal wedding between the then Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, revealing that she would “probably tune in” to the upcoming royal wedding.
The acquaintance between the two women seems to have continued, with Kerry promising to participate in Meghan’s 2021 plan that she launched to celebrate her 40th birthday, 40×40.
For the program, Meghan asked 40 celebrities to participate in the initiative, which aimed to encourage people around the world to devote 40 minutes of their time to supporting women returning to work.
While no details seem to be known about the progress of the project, Kerry Washington was one of the high-profile women who signed up to participate.
The actor took to Instagram that year to send the royal family her best wishes and discuss the project.
In her message, she wrote: “Congratulations on your…beautiful… Meghan Markle.
“On her 40th birthday, I am joining the Duchess of Sussex in donating 40 minutes of service to grassroots organizers and organizations on the ground fighting for change. Fight for our democracy. Fighting for our rights and making our voices heard as we re-enter the job market and a new election season begins.
“If you are able, join us today and spend 40 minutes doing community service or mentoring. Together we can contribute to a global wave of compassion and positive change.”
Meghan Markle (left) was photographed with Kerry Washington (right) at a 2013 party at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineri in New York City
Meghan’s relationship with Kelly Rowland also seems to go back several years. A photo taken during New York Fashion Week 2014 shows the Duchess posing with stylist, journalist and producer Joe Zee and Kelly Rowland.
Meghan shared the image on her now-defunct Instagram account, writing, “Thank you @MrJoeZee for always giving this girl a good time.”
She tagged the post with “NYFW” and “grateful,” and also tagged Kelly Rowland.
Another interaction between the women is said to have occurred in 2021, when Kelly took to Instagram to share a photo of Meghan to mark International Women’s Day.
She shared one of the photos from Meghan and Harry’s TIME 100 photoshoot on her Instagram Stories, showing her support for the royal family.