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Meghan makes her solo debut with Royal Academy of Arts trip

It is the first engagement the Duchess of Sussex has undertaken alone since joining the royal family,

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The Duchess of Sussex will carry out her first solo royal engagement when she attends the opening of a major art exhibition.

The event will be a milestone in Meghan’s life as a member of the monarchy, as she will be venturing out without the support of Harry or other royals.

The 37-year-old former actress will join guests at the opening of an exhibition of works from the Oceania region, at the Royal Academy of Arts in central London.

The exhibition will celebrate the art of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, encompassing the vast Pacific region including New Guinea, Easter Island, Hawaii and New Zealand.

The Duchess of Cambridge carried out her first solo engagement, standing in for the Prince of Wales at a private fundraising dinner, in October 2011, almost six months after her wedding day.

Meghan, who married on May 19, will take part in her first royal event by herself four months after becoming a member of the monarchy.

The exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy, which was founded in 1768, the year Captain James Cook set out on his first Endeavour expedition.

Meghan and Harry are due to tour Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand in October and the duchess will be shown art from the four countries during her exhibition viewing.

She will meet the exhibition’s curators, artists and descendants linked to the works on display, and view a short performance by Ngati Ranana, a Maori cultural group.

Oceania at the Royal Academy of Arts will open to the public from September 29 to December 10.

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