Meghan's New York Baby Shower & The Morocco Itinerary!

Following Valentine's Day with Prince Harry, Meghan travelled to New York on Friday to catch up with five of her closest friends, ahead of the arrival of Baby Sussex in less than two months. Omid Scobie revealed the relaxing visit was planned to ensure five days of "rest, shopping and good food". It marks Meghan's first trip to New York since the wedding. The Duchess is staying at an undisclosed five-star hotel for the duration of her trip. She was photographed last night after spending time with friends. 

The Duchess wrapped up in the navy Victoria Beckham coat she wore on Christmas Day. The tailored slim coat is described as: "This is a tailored coat inspired by classic men’s outerwear, impeccably tailored for a slim fit, accentuating the silhouette of the body. Cut from super soft, deep navy cashmere, it features a wide lapel and a central back vent for movement. Made in Italy and finished with luxurious horn buttons and a silky navy lining." Meghan wore a grey cap and appeared to be carrying her Rag & Bone Wide Brim Fedora.

More from Omid's article for Harper's Bazaar:

“The trip is a lovely chance to catch up with friends and spend time in a city she loves,” says a source close to the duchess, who notes the trip was planned months ago. "This will be the last time a lot of them will see Meg until after the baby is born so it’s nice to share precious moments."

Adds a source, "It’s been a relaxing visit. Nothing beats face time with your friends. Meg will be flying home refreshed and relaxed—and with a lot of new baby clothes."

Sources confirm friends are throwing Meghan a baby shower at a private location for 15 guests on Tuesday, February 19.

Just a day before traveling, the duchess spent a quiet Valentine’s Day with Prince Harry at their Kensington Palace home—a world away from what she once described as the perfect Valentine's in NYC.

In a February 2016 post on her lifestyle blog The Tig, Meghan wrote, "This Valentine’s Day I will be with friends, running amok through the streets of New York, likely imbibing some cocktail that’s oddly pink, and jumping over icy mounds in my new shoes through the salted snowy streets of the West Village."

Omid also revealed Meghan enjoyed macarons and tea with close friend Jessica Mulroney at Laudrée in New York's SoHo district. If you read The Tig or followed Meghan's social media, you'll know she adores macarons.

More on the Laudrée story: "The history of Parisian tea rooms is intimately tied to the history of the Ladurée family. It all began in 1862, when Louis Ernest Ladurée, a man from France’s southwest, created a bakery in Paris at 16 rue Royale. The same year, the first stone of the Garnier Opera House was laid, and the area surrounding the Madeleine was rapidly developing into one of the capital’s most important and elegant business districts. The most prestigious names in French luxury items had already taken up residence in this neighbourhood. Louis Ernest Ladurée’s wife, Jeanne Souchard, had the idea of mixing styles: The Parisian café and pastry shop gave birth to one of the first tea rooms in town. The ”salon de thé” had a definite advantage over the cafés: women could gather in complete freedom." Today, they have tea rooms all over the world.

The story of the Ladurée macaron starts in the middle of the 19th century with Pierre Desfontaines, who first thought of taking two macaron shells and joining them with a delicious ganache filling. The recipe has not changed since.

It was not Meghan's first visit to the popular bakery. Meghan took part in a photoshoot there for Tod's in 2016. She wore a patterned trouser suit and Tod's metallic sneakers (with thanks to Meghan's Mirror).

Meghan's Baby Shower is due to take place at a hotel on the Upper East Side later today. Omid reports friends including Misha Nonoo and Abigail Spencer will be there.

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We also heard details confirming the itinerary for Harry and Meghan's three-day visit to Morocco today. The Duke and Duchess will visit the North African country from Saturday 23 February to Monday 25 February at the request of Her Majesty's government. British Ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Reilly said the visit is "recognition of the strong relationship between our two countries. It's a chance to enjoy Morocco's history and look to its future, focused on the role of women, youth and education in that future".

Saturday, 23 February

The Duke and Duchess will arrive at Casablanca airport on Saturday evening where they will be officially welcomed by British Ambassador Thomas Reilly. Harry will inspect a Guard of Honour at the airport.

Sunday, 24 February

A busy day begins with a visit to the Atlas Mountains to visit organisations Education For All and Lycee Asni to hear more about their efforts to educate girls. 

I was particularly excited to see Education For All on the schedule. When the trip was announced, we discussed their work on the blog, they are a perfect fit for Meghan. The organisation supports girls from very rural communities to continue their education beyond primary school. They are often prohibited by the costs associated with travelling to the nearest secondary school, often a number of kilometres away in larger towns. In some rural areas, up to 83% of women are illiterate - a shocking figure. They believe "Educate a Girl, Educate the Next Generation". During the visit, Meghan will participate in a Henna ceremony.

Next, the Duke and Duchess will visit the Lycee Qualifant Grand Atlas in Asni to hear more about their work in education. They will watch the pupils play football. At the Education For All boarding house in Asni, Harry will present founder Michael McHugo with his MBE, which he was awarded in the New Years Honours List. 

That evening, the couple will attend an evening reception at the British Ambassador's residence in Rabat where they will meet inspiring Moroccan women, influential young people, entrepreneurs and athletes. 

Monday, 24 February

Monday will begin with a visit to the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports where they will learn about their programmes supporting children with special needs. They will view a riding demonstration and discuss caring for the horses with teachers and children. The couple will also have the opportunity to meet representatives from a mental health charity involved.

Next, it's a focus on Meghan's passion for cooking bringing people together with a demonstration at Villa des Ambassadors in Rabat. The couple will see how traditional Moroccan cuisine is supporting young people and teaching children from under-privileged backgrounds a new skill. I expect we'll see the royal pair roll up their sleeves and get involved.

Finally, Harry and Meghan will meet young entrepreneurs supporting youth empowerment at an arts and crafts market in the Andalusian Gardens in Rabat. Afterwards, they will view traditional Moroccan crafts.

Looking forward to seeing the events over the weekend.