Michelle Obama praises 'thoughtful leader' Meghan Markle

Francesca Specter
·Yahoo Style UK deputy editor
Updated
Michelle Obama has praised Meghan Markle's humanitarian work. [Photo: Getty]
Michelle Obama has praised Meghan Markle's humanitarian work. [Photo: Getty]

Michelle Obama has praised Meghan Markle for her global humanitarian work, calling her a “thoughtful leader” who makes the world “better”.

The former First Lad shared an Instagram post to her 33.2 million followers praising the royal, who is currently mid-way through a tour of South Africa together with husband Prince Harry and son Archie.

The post includes a picture of the Duchess of Sussex, 38, posing with leaders at the Obama Foundation – a charity founded by Michelle’s husband Barack – during an engagement yesterday.

READ MORE: Michelle Obama congratulates Meghan on royal baby

In the post’s caption, Obama, 55, thanked her “friend” the Duchess for “breaking the mold and making our world better for it”.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - SEPTEMBER 25: (UK OUT FOR 28 DAYS) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the African not-for-profit organisation 'mothers2mothers' during the royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. The organisation trains and employs women living with HIV as frontline health workers across eight African nations. (Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the African not-for-profit organisation 'mothers2mothers' during the royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa. [Photo: Getty]

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Obama isn’t the only high-profile figure to praise the Duchess’ work.

In Victoria Beckham’s recent interview for Glamour magazine, the 45-year-old said of Meghan: “Women supporting women is key. I liked what Meghan Markle said at the [British] Fashion Awards, that it used to be cool to be cruel, and now it's cool to be kind.

“Kindness was always at the core of Girl Power."

How does Meghan Markle know Michelle Obama?

Duchess Meghan interviewed Obama for an interview when the latter guest-edited the September issue of British Vogue.

In the introduction, the royal described the former FLOTUS as “kind, inspirational, motivating, funny”, while the pair discussed motherhood and changing life goals in the piece.

This undated handout photo received in London, issued on July 28, 2019 by Kensington Palace shows the cover of British Vogue's September issue, entitled "Forces for Change", showing photographs by Peter Lindbergh, which is guest edited by Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. - Prince Harry's wife Meghan will guest edit the September issue of iconic fashion magazine British Vogue, which will see her in "candid conversation" with former first lady Michelle Obama. (Photo by Peter Lindbergh / KENSINGTON PALACE / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KENSINGTON PALACE / PETER LINDBERGH" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - NO COMMERCIAL USE - NO THIRD PARTY SALES - RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE - NO CROPPING OR MODIFICATION - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - Publications are asked to credit the photographs to: Peter Lindbergh / (Photo credit should read PETER LINDBERGH/AFP/Getty Images)
The cover of British Vogue's September issue, entitled "Forces for Change", guest-edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. [Photo: Getty]

READ MORE: Michelle Obama's advice to Meghan Markle

It is believed they knew each other before this time.

Michelle and Meghan are believed to have first met when the former First Lady was in London to promote her book ‘Becoming’ last December.

Prior to this, the Duchess met then US-President Barack Obama back in 2015 and posted a photo with him on her now-deleted Instagram page at the time, with the caption: "Such a pleasure to meet you Mr. President @barackobama #grateful.”

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