Meghan Markle honoured Princess Diana in the sweetest way at the launch of her Smart Works Collection

Cape Town – Meghan Markle is officially off maternity leave and has returned to work with the launch of her Smart Works capsule collection on Thursday.

Smart Works – a charity assisting unemployed women – in collaboration with the Duchess of Sussex with leading fashion brands John Lewis & Partners, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and Misha Nanoo, created a 5-piece Smart Set capsule collection consisting of workwear essentials.

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Last month, The Duchess of Sussex surprised Smart Works clients during the capsule collection shoot in west London...Today, The Duchess, alongside @SmartWorksCharity - in partnership with @InsideJigsaw, @JohnLewisandPartners, @MarksandSpencer and @MishaNonoo - are incredibly proud to reveal to everyone, #TheSmartSet - a five piece capsule collection that will equip the Smart Works clients with the classic wardrobe pieces to help them feel confident as they mobilise back into the work space. • “Since moving to the UK, it has been deeply important to me to meet with communities and organisations on the ground doing meaningful work and to try to do whatever I can to help them amplify their impact. It was just last September that we launched the ‘Together’ cookbook with the women of the Hubb Kitchen in Grenfell. Today, a year later, I am excited to celebrate the launch of another initiative of women supporting women, and communities working together for the greater good. Thank you to the four brands who came together in supporting Smart Works on this special project - placing purpose over profit and community over competition. In convening several companies rather than one, we’ve demonstrated how we can work collectively to empower each other - another layer to this communal success story, that I am so proud to be a part of” - The Duchess of Sussex The collection – which features a shirt, trousers, blazer, dress and tote bag – will be on sale for two weeks starting today, with the objective of selling enough units to give Smart Works the essentials they need to help dress clients for the coming year! For every item bought during the sale of the collection, one will be donated to Smart Works, this 1:1 model allows customers to directly support the Smart Works women by playing a part in their success story - how they look and more importantly, how they feel. Photo © @JennyZarins

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Sep 12, 2019 at 5:08am PDT

The crisp white shirt, blazer to wear over, comfy trousers, a dress that flatters everyone and the perfect tote bag will be sold for at least two weeks – and on a 1:1 model, for every item purchased, another will be given to help a woman get back into the workforce.

"When you buy any item in the Smart Set Capsule Collection for Smart Works, the same item will be given to a Smart Works client, and with it, the confidence and support she needs to enter the workforce and take an important step in building a career," Meghan commented.

"As women, it’s 100% our responsibility, I think, to support and uplift one another, to champion each other as we aim to succeed, to not set each other up for failure but instead to really be there rallying around each other and say, 'I want to help you.'"

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A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Sep 12, 2019 at 9:07am PDT

Meghan explained, some other woman across the country will be wearing the same piece you are, whether it’s a blazer or a pair of pants, that may very well have changed their life, because you decided to make that purchase. 

To the launch, Meghan wore the crisp white shirt and black trouser from the Smart Set capsule paired with a few very special accessories: a gold bracelet and butterfly earrings, both of which once belonged to Princess Diana.

SEE PICTURES OF DIANA'S ACCESSORIES HERE:

(Photos: Splash)

According to PEOPLE, Princess Diana wore the butterfly earrings on a trip to Canada in 1986 – a year after Prince Harry was born. Prince Harry and Prince William are said to have inherited their late mother’s jewellery, which seems to have made cameo appearances since they married.

Meghan Markle’s engagement ring, for one, is made up of three stones – a larger diamond in the centre with two smaller stones on either side. The two side-stones are reportedly from Princess Diana’s personal collection, while the centre stone is from Botswana – one of the countries Prince Harry’s called “home” and he’ll soon be returning to with his upcoming tour to Africa.

Compiled by Bashiera Parker (Sources: Instagram, Smart Works, PEOPLE)

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