PEOPLE confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex attended the ceremony of the son of one of her best friends from college

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex takes part a therapy session in the Kelpie garden with adolescent patients on a visit to the Royal Children's Hospital with her husband Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex on April 14, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.

Meghan Markle in Melbourne, Australia, on April 14, 2026.Credit :  Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty

Meghan Markle took a rare solo trip to commemorate a special occasion of a close college friend’s child.

Reporter Natalie Martinez posted a photo on X of the Duchess of Sussex attending a First Communion ceremony at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on Saturday, May 2. The photo shows Meghan, 44, in an elegant beige turtleneck, smiling as children process down the aisle.

PEOPLE confirmed that Meghan traveled to Chicago over the weekend for the First Communion of the son of one of her best friends from college and that Meghan is the boy’s godmother.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, takes part in the Scar Tree Walk along with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex on day three of the royal trip on April 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.

Meghan Markle in Melbourne, Australia, on April 16 2026.Jonathan Brady/PA Wire-Pool/Getty

Meghan went solo to the event and has already returned home to Montecito, Calif., PEOPLE confirmed.

A source also told PEOPLE that Meghan arrived early to the church and waited with other families and friends in the pews and that she didn’t use a separate entrance or have any special accommodations.

Meghan attended Northwestern University in Chicago from 1999 to 2003, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theater and international studies.

The lifestyle entrepreneur has more celebrating in store ahead this week: her son, Prince Archie, turns 7 on May 6.

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Meghan Markle’s 2000-2001 yearbook photo from Northwestern University.Courtesy Northwestern University

Meghan marked the occasion last year by sharing a never-before-seen photo of her eldest child, whom she shares with Prince Harry.

The snap showed Archie from behind as he watched the sun, centered so it created a radiant glow around his head, set into the ocean from a balcony.

“Our son. Our sun,” she captioned the post. “Happy 6th birthday to Archie!”

“Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy,” she added. “He’s six! Where did the time go?”

The caption also revealed a hint into how Prince Archie celebrated his birthday: “And for all of you who came to celebrate with us at his party last weekend, thank you for making his birthday so incredibly special,” she wrote.

Meghan Markle Shares 6th Birthday Tribute to Son Prince Archie

Prince Archie.Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

Meghan and Harry, 41, are also parents to Archie’s younger sister, 4-year-old Princess Lilibet.