Meghan Markle will no longer appear at a planned event in Los Angeles due to ongoing protests in the city and the presence of the National Guard.
She was scheduled to be honored at the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County’s Night of Wonder gala on Saturday, June 14. However, the event has now been postponed. The museum’s leadership, board of trustees, and event partners agreed that postponing was the right decision given the current unrest in the community.
The museum’s president, Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, said the focus should be on supporting the community and promoting healing and unity, rather than hosting a celebration.
The gala, which will be rescheduled for a later date, was set to recognize Meghan for her work supporting women and underserved communities. She was also expected to deliver a speech at the event. Other cultural and philanthropic figures from Los Angeles were also invited to attend.
The museum still plans to stay open for daily visitors and will continue running its educational programs, including STEM and STEAM initiatives for young people.
This isn’t the first time Meghan has stepped back from a public event out of concern for California. Earlier this year, she postponed the premiere of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan during the devastating wildfires in the state. She and Prince Harry, who live in Montecito with their children, offered shelter to evacuees and provided support through their Archewell Foundation.
The latest protests in L.A. began on June 6 and are in response to increased ICE raids. The situation has drawn national attention, especially after President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard. Reporters have been caught in the chaos, one Australian journalist was even hit with a rubber bullet.
