The Duchess of Sussex received a rock star welcome as she arrived at City, University of
London, in Islington to officially launch the last of her four new patronages.
Meghan, 37, was greeted by hundreds of screaming students as she stepped out of her official car wearing a Givenchy coat, vertiginous cream heels and her hair in an elegant bun on the the top of her head.
The pregnant duchess previously wore the bespoke Givenchy coat on Remembrance Sunday in November 2017, and her sleek bun made a change from her usual relaxed up-do.
She teamed the outfit with a black pleated dress with a high-low hemline for her first official visit with the ACU in her new role as Patron of the international organisation, which is dedicated to building a better world through higher education.
The duchess appeared to brave the cold with bare legs as she greeted members of the board, while excited crowds chanted 'Meghan, Meghan' in the background.
Meghan told of her concern over the stigma surrounding impoverished women who are suffering due to attitudes towards menstruation, highlighting the plight of millions of women around the world who have a lack of access to basic healthcare and sanitary products that women in the west take for granted.
As a Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, a duty she has taken over from the Queen, she joins the world's first and oldest international university network which represents higher education across all 53 Commonwealth countries.
Last month the duchess made a surprise appearance at King's College for a meeting with the ACU, during which she discussed how higher education could address human trafficking and gender equality.
Education is a subject Meghan is passionate about, and in her first speech as a royal during her trip to Fiji last October, she recalled her own struggle to finance her higher education at the prestigious Northwestern University in Illinois, where she graduated with a joint Bachelor of Arts degrees in theater and international relations.
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The Duchess of Sussex met academics and leaders for a meeting with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) at City, University of London, in Islington, on Thursday, wearing the black Givenchy coat she wore on Remembrance Day
Meghan, 37, who is six months pregnant, teamed the ensemble with a black pleated dress with a high-low hemline for her first official visit with the ACU in her new role as Patron of the international organisation, which is dedicated to building a better world through higher education
Madeleine Harper, 25, who studies law at City University told FEMAIL: 'It was chaos! They've got a huge area for her and closed off all the entrances to the university building - and there were crowds everywhere. My lecture was cancelled cause it was in that building and the library was full with everyone trying to see her!'
Meghan wore the same bespoke coat when she attended the Remembrance Sunday and the Centenary of the Armistice Service at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, in November.
Meghan, who is usually seen with her blow-dried hair in a sleek centre parting or messy bun, opted for a high topknot for the occasion, which showed off her stunning diamond earrings. Leaving her coat unbuttoned, apart from the top button, Meghan revealed a glimpse of her blossoming bump as she waved at onlookers.
The only splash of colour to her coordinated black outfit were the nude court shoes she wore, and she appeared to opt for bare legs.
Making the most of her natural beauty, Meghan opted for neutral make-up for the occasion, adding a dusting of eyeshadow and a touch of nude lip gloss.
Meghan appeared upbeat as she visited the prestigious university, which is one of the ACU's 500 university members, nonchalantly keeping her hands in her pockets.
Meghan wore the same bespoke coat when she attended the Remembrance Sunday and the Centenary of the Armistice Service at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, in November (pictured)
Once Inside the duchess was pictured speaking animatedly to Hilary Harawo, a student in Ghana, via Skype.
Joanna Newman, chief executive and secretary general of the ACU, said: 'Our new patron, of course, has such a fantastic record of speaking up about the issues we most care about in higher education, whether it's equity of access, gender and girls, or a whole host of other issues.'
During the visit the Duchess met students from the Commonwealth now studying in the UK, for whom access to university has transformed their lives.
At the hour long meeting she listened intently to different groups from a selection of the ACU's 500 university members who are working and studying in the UK.
Dr Ephraim Kisangala, a Commonwealth PhD scholar from Uganda, who is studying Public Heath and Health Promotion at Bangor University, spoke to the Duchess about his thesis on menstrual hygiene management in refugee settlements in his country.
He said: 'The Duchess was very passionate about our work, I could tell she had a genuine concern for the women we are trying to help.
'She has been to Africa and has also identified the problem herself in the past for the women who are suffering due to the attitudes towards menstruation across the world.
'My research is specifically targeted at finding solutions to assist women in refugee settlements in Uganda and the Duchess said more must be done to help these women.
'The most affected are women and children who flee without even the basic of necessities.
'I told the Duchess how Uganda host the second largest number of refugees in the world, 70% of whom arrived in the last few months.
'The Duchess said to me how shocked she was and how it was so important to raise awareness of this issue so that more can be done.
'Because she has been to Africa she also identified with many of the myths and taboos surrounding this issue and was particularly aware of how poor menstruation management leads not only to disease but an incredible rate of school drop out for young girls.'
The Duchess of Sussex met academics and leaders for a meeting with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) at City, University of London, in Islington, on Thursday, wearing the black Givenchy coat she wore on Remembrance Day
Meghan wore the same bespoke coat when she attended the Remembrance Sunday and the Centenary of the Armistice Service at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, in November (pictured)Once Inside the duchess was pictured speaking animatedly to Hilary Harawo, a student in Ghana, via Skype.Joanna Newman, chief executive and secretary general of the ACU, said: 'Our new patron, of course, has such a fantastic record of speaking up about the issues we most care about in higher education, whether it's equity of access, gender and girls, or a whole host of other issues.'During the visit the Duchess met students from the Commonwealth now studying in the UK, for whom access to university has transformed their lives.At the hour long meeting she listened intently to different groups from a selection of the ACU's 500 university members who are working and studying in the UK.Dr Ephraim Kisangala, a Commonwealth PhD scholar from Uganda, who is studying Public Heath and Health Promotion at Bangor University, spoke to the Duchess about his thesis on menstrual hygiene management in refugee settlements in his country.He said: 'The Duchess was very passionate about our work, I could tell she had a genuine concern for the women we are trying to help.'She has been to Africa and has also identified the problem herself in the past for the women who are suffering due to the attitudes towards menstruation across the world.'My research is specifically targeted at finding solutions to assist women in refugee settlements in Uganda and the Duchess said more must be done to help these women.'The most affected are women and children who flee without even the basic of necessities.'I told the Duchess how Uganda host the second largest number of refugees in the world, 70% of whom arrived in the last few months.'The Duchess said to me how shocked she was and how it was so important to raise awareness of this issue so that more can be done.'Because she has been to Africa she also identified with many of the myths and taboos surrounding this issue and was particularly aware of how poor menstruation management leads not only to disease but an incredible rate of school drop out for young girls.'
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