Meghan Markle appeared in great spirits as she stepped out in Montecito with Father Of The Bride actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley on Sunday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, was pictured leaving the trendy Italian restaurant Tre Lune, a favourite among A-listers including Kourtney Kardashian, Ellen DeGeneres and Sofia Richie.
Mother-of-two Meghan was spotted smiling and chatting with Kimberly, wife of American country singer Brad Paisley, near her $14.5million Montecito mansion.
Kimberly and her husband are long-time residents of Montecito and are part of the same social circle, which included Ellen, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom.
The actress is also heavily involved in charity initiatives, which are close to Meghan’s heart, particularly ending food poverty, so there was no doubt plenty to catch up on during their outing.
Meghan Markle appeared in great spirits as she stepped out in Montecito with Father Of The Bride actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley on Sunday
Beaming Meghan was seen sharing a thumbs-up with Kimberly as she got into the waiting car
Meghan looked effortlessly stunning as she added a pair of RayBan sunglasses (her Aviator Classics in gold)
The stylish Duchess combined her effortless look with her signature jewellery pairings
Looking typically chic, Prince Harry‘s wife opted for a laidback look with a £245 white ‘Mika’ shirt from Los Angeles brand Anine Bing tucked into a pair of relaxed light-blue denim mom jeans, and even pulled her hair back with a claw clip.
Actress Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for more than 20 years and the couple share two children.
Prince Harry took part in a Stand Up for Heroes event in 2020, which also saw a performance from the musician – where the pair perhaps crossed paths.
In 2016, Kimberly opened up about how her mother’s dementia changed her life in the memoir Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again.
It details the family’s struggle as her mother Linda developed an illness called primary progressive aphasia – and slowly lost the ability to ‘talk, write and eventually recognize people in her own family’.
Reviewers praised the moving book, which in an excerpt described how Kimberly, her father and siblings ‘educated themselves, tried to let go of shame and secrecy, made mistakes, and found unexpected humor and grace in the midst of suffering’.
Meanwhile, Kimberly kept her look casual in a blue button down dress and white trainers.
The mother-of-two is best known for her role in Father of the Bride, where she starred alongside Steve Martin and Diane Keaton as lovestruck Annie – her very first big screen role.
Actress Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for more than 20 years and the couple share two children. Pictured in ‘Father Of The Bride’ in 1991
In 2016, Kimberly opened up about how her mother’s dementia changed her life in the memoir Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again. Pictured with Steve Martin when she was younger
The Duchess of Sussex was joined by Father Of The Bride actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Mother-of-two Meghan was spotted smiling and chatting with Kimberly, wife of American country singer Brad Paisley
Looking typically chic, Prince Harry’s wife opted for a laidback look with a £245 white ‘Mika’ shirt from Los Angeles brand Anine Bing
Meghan added a pair of relaxed light-blue denim mom jeans, and even pulled her hair back with a claw clip
The Duchess of Sussex was beaming from ear to ear as she enjoyed an outing at swanky Italian eatery Tre Lune
Meghan looked very animated as she was seen gesturing to Kimberly while in conversation
The film proved to be a launchpad for Kimberly’s career, leading to starring roles in a number of films throughout the 1990s, including Indian Summer (1993), Coldblooded (1995), and The War at Home (1996).
From 2001 she became the co-star of According to Jim for a whopping eight years, even directing three episodes herself.
She then added appearances on show Nashville, Boston Legal and Two and a Half Men after According to Jim wrapped in 2009.
Kimberly has been married to country music star Brad Paisley since 2003 and the pair are parents to two children.
The duo are also known for their charity work. The pair have recently founded an initiative called ‘The Store’ to tackle food insecurity.
On their website, the pair explained that the inspiration for the project, which provides basic groceries for those that need them free of charge, began because they wanted to teach their children about global issues.
‘We’ve got to get them into service and get them out of their bubble, and help them understand that there are hungry people in the world,’ Kimberly said.
In 2020, The Store opened up in Nashville, only to be forced to tackle the aftermath of a tornado outbreak as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in the same year.
Their website reads: ‘The Store distinguishes itself by offering a unique shopping experience that upholds the dignity of its customers. Unlike traditional food pantries, The Store invites shoppers to choose their foods from a variety of fresh, healthy options.
‘This model ensures that families have access to meat, dairy, and fresh produce—often hard to find in traditional food assistance programs.’
Known for her impressive jewellery collection, Meghan wore over £53,200 of glittering accessories on Sunday, even without including the price of the huge £271,000 engagement ring on her finger.
The Duchess appeared to be wearing her Lorraine Schwartz Against Evil Eye Diamond Pave Bracelet, which is thought to ‘protect from the envy of others’.
The bracelet, costing an eye-watering £14,902.41, is crafted from 18-carat white gold, with a total of 23.66 carats blue topaz, 1.86 carats white diamonds and .06 carats black diamonds.
Amongst her other accessories included a reworn £12,800 Cartier necklace, her favourite £17,800 gold Cartier Tank watch and £5,000 Cartier Love Bracelet.
Her Cartier ‘Juste Un Clou’ Collar in Yellow Gold & Diamonds seems to be making a frequent appearance in her wardrobe, as she was seen wearing it at a Vancouver Canucks ice hockey game over the winter with Prince Harry.
Hanging below the Cartier necklace was a stunning pendant with a sweet personal touch.
The £2,039.50 Ariel Golden ‘Imperial disk’ necklace is engraved with her children’s names, Archie and Lilibet.
Meghan finished her look with another designer flourish, wearing the Chanel Ballerina Cap Toe Flats in Beige and Black Lambskin, costing £820, and RayBan sunglasses (her Aviator Classics in gold).
Meghan opted for a casual look – but showed off her extensive collection of jewellery
She opted for her Cartier watch, bracelet and necklace – as well as her Lorraine Schwartz Against Evil Eye bracelet
Kimberly looked stylish in a bright blue jumpsuit for the outing in Montecito
The Duchess waited patiently as Kimberley adjusted her shoulder bag
Meghan was a supportive pal as the two walked to their cars, placing a hand on Kimberly’s back
Meghan was in a friendly mood as she appeared to look around her and chat to others
The Duchess’ appearance comes after the world was left shocked by President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday.
Meghan’s husband Harry has a firm friendship with President Biden’s wife Dr Jill Biden after the pair met 11 years ago when he was still representing Britain as a senior royal – and the Present even joked that his wife had spent ‘spent too much damn time’ with Harry.
Meanwhile, Meghan sent a bunch of lemons to Jill, who was ‘in on the joke’ in a nod to social media speculation that the First Lady was on ‘Team Sussex’.
The day after Harry and Meghan’s famous Oprah Winfrey interview aired in 2021, the President’s wife wore an Oscar de la Renta dress with a lemon pattern. The frock was similar to a $2,890 dress from the same designer that Meghan had worn a month before.
Fans online believed Jill’s outfit was a subtle nod of support for the Duchess, even though the First Lady had worn the dress on several occasions before that and since then.
DailyMail.com then revealed exclusively that Meghan sent the First Lady a basket of lemons in thanks and Jill was ‘in on the joke’, a source told DailyMail.com in July 2023.
However, neither Harry nor Meghan formally endorsed President Biden in the race this year – despite their friendly relationship with his wife.
But the Duke and Duchess have waded into US politics once again this summer, joining a campaign to warn American voters against misinformation in the upcoming presidential election.
Their Archewell Foundation and other Hollywood political players are supporting an initiative to prepare voters in America for a possible onslaught of AI deepfake information, Axios reported in April.
Specifically, the Archewell Foundation is helping brainstorm new content for the campaign.
It is the second time around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have gotten involved in a presidential election. In the 2020 contest, they urged Americans to sign up to vote and reject misinformation.
In the aftermath, Republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their titles, calling the interference of the Duke and Duchess inappropriate.
The involvement of the Sussexes restoked questions about Meghan’s political ambitions.
A representative for the Duke and Duchess did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment at the time.
Meghan kept it casual but trendy, using a claw clip to keep her brunette locks out of her face
The two seemed to have had a lot to talk about and were still chatting even after leaving the eatery
Meghan wore her £15,500 Cartier ‘Juste Un Clou’ Collar and £2,039.50 Ariel Golden ‘Imperial disk’ necklace
The mother-of-two was all smiles as she attended her outing on Sunday
Kimberly and Meghan bid the restaurant farewell. Their outing came as news broke of Joe Biden stepping down as President
The pair looked radiant on their outing together, complementing each other in shades of blue
Kimberly wore a striking blue number with a colourful over the shoulder bag
Meghan’s look was the perfect combination of luxurious designer brands and classic comfort
Her outing comes after US President Joe Biden , 81, dropped out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday
But Meghan’s ambitions have been talked about since she and Harry emigrated from Britain during the ‘Megxit’ crisis, including claims that she would ‘seriously consider’ running for president if her husband dropped his royal title.
The couple also hired top former aides to Barack Obama for their foundation, fuelling the speculation about their political futures.
Then, a few years ago, a friend of the Duchess told Vanity Fair that one of the reasons Meghan did not give up her American citizenship when she married into the Royal Family was to allow her to keep open the option of entering politics.
She has already gotten involved in policy issues; The Duchess was a vocal critic of the Supreme Court‘s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade and threatened to go to Washington D.C. to march in the protests.
She also lobbied members of Congress to approve mandatory paid parental leave, writing to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shumer, as well as cold-calling senators to ask them to support the measure.
She signed her letters to the lawmakers with her royal title: ‘Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.’
But, in 2020, the Sussexes were accused of ‘violating’ the terms of the ‘Megxit’ deal after repeatedly urging Americans to vote in the presidential elections.
In a video they posted online a few months before voters went to the polls, Harry and Meghan delivered a message that was widely interpreted as an endorsement of Joe Biden.
As well as her engagement ring, Meghan wore her Cartier Love Bracelet, Evil Eye bracelet and Princess Diana’s watch
The trendy Italian restaurant Tre Lune is a favourite among A-listers including Kourtney Kardashian, Ellen DeGeneres and Sofia Richie
Even Meghan’s shoes had a designer flourish – the Chanel Ballerina Cap Toe Flats in Beige and Black Lambskin
Meghan was still smiling as she climbed into a Range Rover after the outing
It is not known how Meghan and Kimberly know each other, but after such a friendly show it will be no surprise to see them together again
Kimberly, wife of American country singer Brad Paisley, accompanied Meghan near her $14.5million Montecito mansion
It’s Meghan’s first appearance since she was seen supporting her husband Prince Harry at the ESPYs
The Duke of Sussex urged people to ‘reject hate speech’ while the Duchess called it the ‘most important election of our lifetime,’ urging Americans to the polls.
The comments caused a stir on both sides of the Atlantic although their spokespeople argued their message was not directed at any particular candidate but was the Duke and Duchess’ way of expressing their concern about the tone in politics.
‘Said “hello I’m Meg” and “hello I’m Gloria” and “are you going to vote?” That was her initiative.’