Why Was Retired Actress Meghan Markle Meeting With Theater Director?

Meghan Markle retired from acting after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry last year, but that doesn’t mean her love for the arts has gone away. The former thespian even met with National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris recently.

“No slowing down for the holidays (yet). Duchess Meghan had a private meeting with @NationalTheatre artistic director Rufus Norris today,” royal correspondent Omid Scobie wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

The ABC contributor added that Norris wants to make the theater more inclusive. “Since joining in 2015, Norris has been determined to promote cultural diversity and inclusivity at the playhouse: ‘Theatre is for everyone.’”

So why was the Duchess of Sussex meeting with him? Sorry, “Suits” fans. She’s probably not auditioning. However, there is speculation that the pregnant Duchess will make the National Theatre her first royal patronage.

Currently, Queen Elizabeth II is patron for the National Theatre. Scobie noted that she has been passing down responsibilities to the younger royals, and this would likely be a great fit for Meghan.

The Duchess of Sussex has proven that she is a big fan of “Hamilton.” She and Prince Harry saw it twice. The second time was with writer Lin-Manuel Miranda. The Tony winner, who stars in the upcoming “Mary Poppins Returns,” revealed that Meghan knew the soundtrack well.

“It was pretty wild. It was pretty surreal to see that the Duchess knows the lyrics a little better than I do! She was sitting next to me and mouthing along,” Miranda told Hello! “I am playing Hamilton again in Puerto Rico in a few weeks and I really was like, oh man I've got to brush up on my lyrics. So, it was a joy and they're wonderful.”

Meghan is likely figuring out what her patronages will be. After Kate Middleton married Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge waited nine months to announce her patronages. The Duchess of Sussex has been married to Prince Harry for seven months, and her pregnancy could push the announcement back even further. They are expecting their first child in the spring.