Meghan Markle will return to royal duties next week after taking four months’ maternity leave

The Duchess of Sussex is preparing to return from maternity leave next week, Buckingham palace has confirmed.

Meghan Markle, 38, will attend an event on Thursday 12 September to launch her new womenswear line in collaboration with the Smart Works charity, of which she is patron.  

It will mark the first official engagement for the new mother since the birth of her son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in May. 

Meghan has worked with retailers Jigsaw, John Lewis and Partners, Marks and Spencer and her designer friend Misha Nonoo to create a timeless series of outfits – known as a capsule collection – that can be worn in the workplace.

The clothes are designed to equip Smart Works’ clients with the key essentials they need as they attend interviews and enter into the workplace – including shirts trousers, blazers, dresses and bag. 

For every item bought during the sale of the collection, which will last for at least two weeks, one will be donated to Smart Works – allowing customers to help empower and support other women and play a part in their success story. 

Smart Works, one of Meghan’s first patronages, helps women, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, get interview-ready by providing them with a new outfit and coaching from a team of volunteer mentors.

Meghan asked retailers Jigsaw, John Lewis and Partners, Marks and Spencer and her designer friend Misha Nonoo to create a timeless series of outfits – known as a capsule collection – that can be worn in the workplace

Meghan (pictured) with Lady Juliet Hughes-Hallet in January this year – during her visit to Smart Works on January

The charity revealed that, during her numerous visits to their headquarters, Meghan thought that, even though the donations to Smart Works were plentiful they weren’t always the right choices or sizes. 

Meghan wanted to collaborate on this capsule collection with Smart Works and ensure that its clients are equipped with both the skills and clothes they need to feel job-ready. 

The new line will be in aid of the charity and was announced following the launch of Meghan’s Vogue magazine campaign.

Last month the duchess shared an excited ‘behind-the-scenes’ video of the Smart Works shoot to the Sussex Royal Instagram page.

Last month the duchess shared an excited ‘behind-the-scenes’ video of the Smart Works shoot to the Sussex Royal Instagram page

Meghan Markle will attend an event next week to launch her new womenswear line in collaboration with the Smart Works charity, of which she is patron

In the ‘sneak peak’ clip, set to Bill Withers’ 1977 hit Lovely Day, Meghan was seen excitedly helping coordinate the shoot for the capsule collection she is spearheading in partnership with the women’s organisation.

While on maternity leave, Meghan and Harry have been embroiled in a row over their repeated use of private jets. The couple took four trips in the space of just 11 days. 

In an interview for Meghan’s edition of British Vogue, Harry told environmentalist Dr Jane Goodall he and his wife only plan to have a ‘maximum’ of two children, to help minimise their carbon footprint.

But photographs of the royal couple and three-month-old Archie showed the family stepping on board the Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign jet on Saturday at about 3pm local time, having arrived in France three days earlier.