Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance in West Hollywood on Wednesday evening to join friends at a pink-themed baby shower for Samantha Stone. The event drew a crowd of remarkable guests, including Blake Lively and Crystal Kung Minkoff.
Kelly Zajfen, one of Markle’s close friends, documented the occasion on Instagram, sharing a picture of herself with the Duchess of Sussex. In the post, she celebrated the joyous gathering and expressed excitement about welcoming Stone’s baby girl, affectionately referring to herself as “Auntie Kelly.”
Duchess of Sussex adds elegance to Samantha Stone’s baby shower celebration
Dressed elegantly in a light pink midi dress, Markle, 43, wore her dark hair styled in loose waves cascading over her shoulders. Zajfen captioned her post with enthusiasm, “I love a theme. Wear pink, she said! Celebrating our sweet baby girl coming oh so soon! Adore you @samanthamstone and can’t wait to meet baby Stone. She’s a lucky little girl to have a mama like you.”
In addition to Markle, other celebrities in attendance included actress Marla Sokoloff and “It Ends With Us” star Blake Lively, who opted for a relaxed look in striped pink-and-white silk pajamas. Meanwhile, Minkoff chose a cream blouse paired with pink trousers for the celebration.
This outing marked a rare social appearance for Markle, following recent speculation about her marriage to Prince Harry. Addressing the rumors, Harry spoke candidly during the New York Times’ DealBook Summit on Dec. 4, dismissing the relentless gossip surrounding their relationship. He humorously noted exaggerated claims of their supposed multiple moves and divorces, emphasizing that such speculation is baseless.
While acknowledging the constant scrutiny, Harry expressed pity for online trolls who eagerly anticipate turmoil in his marriage. He described their misplaced hopes as futile, stating, “I genuinely feel sorry for them. Their hopes build and build, and then nothing happens.”
Reports about marital troubles emerged after the couple attended events separately in recent months. In October, Markle turned heads in a red gown at the Children’s Hospital LA Gala without Harry by her side. Later, she joined a gathering to celebrate Kadi Lee and Myka Harris’ Highbrow Hippie haircare line launch, where she was seen enjoying herself on the dance floor.
Meanwhile, Harry is set to host a charity event on Dec. 10 without Markle. Together, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are parents to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
