Meghan Markle brought 'suitcases of outfits' and 'disappeared' with photographer during charity trip to Rwanda, book claims

Meghan Markle brought 'suitcases of outfits' and 'disappeared' with photographer during charity trip to Rwanda, book claims
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Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 22/07/2022

- 11:40

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:48

The Duchess of Sussex made the trip to Rwanda for a charity campaign in 2016

Meghan Markle "insisted" she bring a photographer on a trip to Rwanda with her, along with "suitcases of outfits", a biography has claimed.

The Duchess of Sussex was invited on the trip in 2016 by World Vision Canada to film an advert for the charity, where they hoped to promote their work of building water wells in the country.


Writing in his new book 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors', Tom Bower claims Meghan flew to Rwanda first class, accompanied by fashion photographer Gabor Jurina and a personal hair and makeup artist.

A producer who had been set to film the trip, Brenda Surminski, did not travel to Rwanda and a Canadian camera man joined the group instead.

Mr Bower claims Meghan "disappeared" with photographer Jurina to take photos with children after filming with them playing with a water tap.

He writes: "At the end, Surminski was puzzled. Celebrities using a desolate African village as the backdrop for a fashion shoot was 'mind-blowing."

Meghan Markle made the trip to Rwanda in 2016
Meghan Markle made the trip to Rwanda in 2016
Image: YouTube / World Vision Canada

The Duchess is alleged to have 'disappeared' with her photographer during the trip
The Duchess is alleged to have 'disappeared' with her photographer during the trip
Image: YouTube / World Vision Canada

Meghan has not commented on the claims made in the book.

Mr Bower claims that the links between the Duchess of Sussex and the charity came through advertising agency KBS, after the creative director in Toronto Matt Hassell floated Meghan's name for the role, saying she would be "ideal".

The author also claims that the Queen said “thank goodness Meghan is not coming” to the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, according to unnamed sources.

An extract suggests the Queen was relieved that the Duchess of Sussex, then seven months pregnant, would not be attending her husband Philip’s funeral on April 17 last year.

The book states: “‘Thank goodness Meghan is not coming,’ the monarch said in a clear voice to her trusted aides.”

Buckingham Palace, which does not comment on individual books, declined to comment on the story.

But sources close to the Queen question whether she would have anything other than Philip on her mind on the day of the funeral.

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