Meghan Markle Steps Out Without Prince Harry to Celebrate the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles

On Sunday night, Meghan Markle made a solo appearance to celebrate the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. While her husband, Prince Harry, continues his travels in Africa, Meghan stepped out with her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen for the fundraiser at the LA LIVE Event Deck, where producer Chuck Lorre and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and his wife Bernadette were being honored for their work supporting the hospital.

Zajfen, an entrepreneur and founder of the charity Alliance of Moms, is also a CHLA Heart Ambassador. Her friendship with Meghan dates back more than a decade and in September she said that Meghan and Harry were a “guiding light” during her own experience losing a child in 2022. On Sunday, Meghan wore a red Carolina Herrera gown that she first wore to a New York City gala back in 2021, minus a long, flared skirt that was originally attached to the bodice. Footage of her original fitting for the dress was shown in the couple’s 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan.

In an interview on the red carpet, Meghan explained why she is committed to the work that the hospital does. “Oh my goodness, the work they do at Children’s Hospital L.A. is otherworldly,” she said. “I think—from my standpoint as a mother—no one wants to be in a position where you need to go to a place like this, but if you have to, the best place in the world you could go would be Children’s Hospital LA.”

In April, Meghan made a visit to the Children’s Hospital as a part of their Literally Healing program, where she read books including Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons and Rosie the Riveter with patients. At the fundraiser, the duchess added that she has “mom friends,” including some “from high school” whose children are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

“The staff is incredible, and the amount of work they do for families that really could not afford this level of care is something that I think should never be overlooked,” she said. “So I’m just grateful for everything they do.”

The night featured a performance by Demi Lovato and was hosted by actor Jon Cryer and his wife, entertainment reporter Lisa Joyner. Additional guests included Colin Hanks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jimmy Kimmel, Kaley Cuoco, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Mark Hoppus of Blink-182.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s trip to Africa continued Sunday with a Johannesburg dinner celebrating his charity Sentebale and the work they have done to improve the lives of youth in southern Africa. “I’ve made it one of my life’s missions to create a platform for young voices,” he said, according to a statement on his website. “We have seen time and time again that young voices, when they are listened to, have the solutions.”