Bishop and Markle in step on women’s rights

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met Meghan Markle at an event to promote female empowerment in London.

Boris Johnson with Julie Bishop, David Panton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the reception. Picture: i-Images.

One of Australia’s staunchest advocates of women’s rights, Julie Bishop, met the woman of the moment, Meghan Markle at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to promote women’s empowerment yesterday.

The Foreign Minister, whose government department applies a gender equality mantra to all of its work, including making sure women, and not just men, in communities will benefit from foreign aid programs, was there to support British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson’s campaign to “Leave No Woman Behind”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, wearing a Maori cloak, meets the Queen. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Bishop, accompanied by her partner, David Panton, was part of the official delegation alongside bride-to-be Ms Markle and Prince Harry at the reception of education campaigners and gender rights charities at the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Harry and Ms Markle mingled with guests, asking them if they had been able to use the networking opportunities at CHOGM to great effect. Harry said: “It starts here. You are already doing amazing stuff. Now you have to energise.”

Mr Johnson announced a $400 million Platform for Girls Education program across the Commonwealth.

Ms Ardern with partner Clarke Gayford. Picture: Getty Images

While this CHOGM has been all about being the Queen’s last, as she hands responsibility to Prince Charles, Jacinda Ardern’s first has given her almost equal billing.

The New Zealand Prime Minister was given the honour of delivering one of only two toasts to the Queen at the opulent Buckingham Palace dinner.

Ms Ardern, expecting her first baby within weeks, travelled with British Prime Minister Theresa May’s security cavalcade and appeared on the front of The Financial Times taking a selfie with Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and schoolchildren.

At the official reception with the Queen, Ms Ardern outshone even Mr Trudeau — infamous for his cultural appropriation of Indian traditional costumes — when she appeared in a traditional Maori feathered cloak.