Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Catch Up Over Cozy Lunch at…see more

Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Catch Up Over Cozy Lunch at Montecito Hot Spot
The Duchess of Sussex and Williams-Paisley have lots in common, professionally and philanthropically

Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Paisley caught up over an Italian meal last weekend.

On Sunday, July 21, the Duchess of Sussex, 42, and actress and activist, 52, were seen leaving Tre Lune in Montecito, California, in photos obtained by the Daily Mail. The Italian restaurant and celebrity hot spot is in the same Santa Barbara enclave where Meghan lives with husband Prince Harry and their kids Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dined at Tre Lune a few days before Meghan’s birthday last August.

The pair, who are both alumni of Northwestern University, caught up over pasta and wine, PEOPLE understands. Williams-Paisley graduated from Northwestern in 1993, and the Duchess of Sussex earned her degree in 2003.

Meghan and Williams-Paisley aced summer style, with the Duchess of Sussex wearing a white Anine Bing button-down tucked into jeans with Chanel flats. She accessorized with Ray-Ban aviator shades and two gold necklaces, carrying her Dior Lady D-Lite handbag.

Meanwhile, the Nashville star wore a breezy blue dress with a sling bag, pushing her hair back with sunglasses and sporting sneakers.

While the two haven’t been photographed together before, they have plenty in common, both professionally and philanthropically. In addition to their college connection, Williams-Paisley shot to stardom in the 1991 film Father of the Bride, while Meghan starred in the first seven seasons of Suits before stepping back from acting following her royal engagement to Prince Harry, 39, in 2017.

Meghan and Williams-Paisley also share a commitment to paying it forward through their charitable efforts. Meghan and Prince Harry founded their non-profit Archewell Foundation in 2020 to serve as an umbrella for their various

philanthropic endeavors.

In a similar initiative, Williams-Paisley and her husband Brad Paisley founded The Store in Nashville in 2020 to provide free groceries to families experiencing poverty.