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Princess Lilibet’s first day of school led to an unexpected reunion for Meghan Markle

Meghan has spoken about wanting Lilibet to grow up seeing women pursue their ambitions firsthand

AUGUST 4, 2026 1:17 PM EDTAUG 4, 2026, 1:17 PM EDT

Meghan Markle experienced an unexpected full-circle moment while dropping Princess Lilibet off for her first day of preschool.

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The Duchess of Sussex revealed that the milestone for her 5-year-old daughter brought someone from her own childhood back into her life when she unexpectedly reunited with a former Girl Scout troopmate.

It has been nearly four years since Charles last saw Archie and Lilibet, with the last encounter taking place during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are raising Archie and Lilibet in California, where the duchess also spent much of her childhood.

“Funny enough, on Lili’s first day of pre-K, one of the moms came up to me at drop-off, and I realized we were in our troop together!” Meghan told People. “It was so sweet and nostalgic.”

The surprise encounter connected two generations of Meghan’s family history, as the duchess was herself a Brownie and Junior Girl Scout while growing up in Los Angeles. Her mother, Doria Ragland, even served as her troop leader.

Meghan Markle's priceless gift for kids archie and Lilibet — Meghan Markle unexpectedly reunited with a former Girl Scout troopmate while dropping Lilibet off at school.

The memory resurfaced as Meghan, who celebrates her 45th birthday on Aug. 4, promotes Cookie Queens, the coming-of-age documentary she and Prince Harry executive produced through Archewell Productions.

Directed by Alysa Nahmias, the documentary follows four young Girl Scouts navigating the excitement, competition and pressures of the organization's famous cookie-selling season while developing confidence, resilience and leadership skills.

Meghan Markle and her kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — Meghan was a Brownie and Junior Girl Scout growing up in Los Angeles, with her mother, Doria Ragland, serving as her troop leader.

The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, arrives in theaters on Aug. 7 and marks Archewell Productions' first theatrical release.

Meghan's Girl Scout past comes full circle:

For Meghan, the project has an especially personal connection. Long before becoming the Duchess of Sussex, she participated in the Girl Scouts while growing up in California, an experience she has credited with teaching her lessons that continued into adulthood.

King Charles reunites with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Archie and Lilibet during rare UK visit amid years of family tension — Meghan Markle revealed the unexpected encounter she experienced while dropping Princess Lilibet off for her first day of preschool.

Her involvement with Cookie Queens brought those childhood memories back, but raising Lilibet has given the documentary's message another layer of meaning.

“These girls are our future leaders and amazing role models,” Meghan told People, explaining that she was particularly inspired by seeing young girls develop entrepreneurial and financial skills while learning to work toward their goals.

Archie and Lilibet racing to find Easter eggs — Princess Lilibet’s first day of pre-K brought back special memories from Meghan Markle’s own childhood in Los Angeles.

When asked whether the documentary resonates differently now that she is raising a daughter herself, Meghan's answer was immediate, “100 percent.” The duchess is also mom to 7-year-old Prince Archie with Prince Harry.

The childhood lessons Meghan hopes to pass on to Lilibet:

Meghan's enthusiasm for the Girl Scouts reflects a larger theme she has repeatedly shared about raising her children, passing down experiences and traditions from her own California childhood.

The connection became particularly visible with Cookie Queens. Meghan and Harry attended the documentary's Sundance premiere in January, and the duchess recently returned to the Girl Scout world with a surprise visit to Camp Arnaz in Ojai, California, for a special screening of the film.

Lilibet is celebrating her 5th birthday — The Duchess of Sussex is passing down some of the lessons and traditions she experienced during her own childhood to the next generation.

Meghan has spoken about wanting Lilibet to grow up seeing women pursue their ambitions firsthand, and she explained that she hoped her daughter would see what it looks like to have a working mother and eventually view that example as part of her own legacy.

Now, an ordinary first-day-of-school drop-off has created another unexpected link between their childhoods. Decades after Meghan joined the Girl Scouts with Doria as her troop leader, she found herself standing beside one of her former troopmates again, this time not as two young Girl Scouts in Los Angeles, but as mothers bringing their own children to school.