Meghan Markle Raves About Broadway’s Gypsy After Surprise Night Out in New York City

The Duchess of Sussex reportedly dined at Polo Bar before seeing ‘Gypsy’ on Broadway, starring Audra McDonald

Audra Mcdonald (left) and Meghan Markle backstage at Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025. Photo: Michaelah Reynolds

Meghan Markle stepped out in New York City on April 10, reportedly dining at Polo Bar before seeing the musical Gypsy
The Duchess of Sussex met the cast backstage, including Audra McDonald, who is the first Black actress to play the role of Mama Rose on Broadway
Meanwhile, Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine, where he met with war victims

Surprise! Meghan Markle had a night out in New York City, including heading backstage on Broadway.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, was spotted in Manhattan on April 10, as first reported by Page Six. The outlet reported that she dined at Polo Bar before heading to the Majestic Theatre to take in Gypsy.

After the show, Meghan and her group of friends — including Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent, Tracy and Brian Robbins and George Cheeks— went backstage to meet the cast.

“Meghan was totally happy to come backstage and very generous with her time,” a source on the scene tells PEOPLE. “She made her way around the room, greeted everyone and was just very smiley and nice.”

Audra McDonald (left) and Meghan Markle backstage at Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

The revival stars six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, the first Black actress to play the role of Mama Rose on Broadway. Meghan and McDonald hugged and posed together for a photo, with McDonald still in costume.

“She kept telling them how much she loved the production and was gushing specifically to Audra about her performance,” the source adds. “The company were all so happy to have her there and appreciative of her support.”

The Duchess of Sussex revealed in an Instagram post the following day that it was her first time meeting McDonald and raved about her performance.

“If you get a chance to see @gypsybway, you absolutely must. Congratulations to the tremendously talented cast and crew for creating magic on that stage,” she wrote.

“And meeting @audramcdonald for the first time last night….🥹,” Meghan continued. “Her performance will leave you absolutely speechless. Full body chills. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house, and if the theater didn’t have to close for the night, the standing ovation would still be happening.”

Audra McDonald hugs Meghan Markle backstage at Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

McDonald also posted photos from the meet and greet on Instagram, writing, “Thank you dear @meghan, it was a joy having you spend the evening with us at @gypsybway!”

McDonald, who attended the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards in 2023 where Meghan was honored as a Woman of Vision Award honoree, once named the Duchess of Sussex as the living person she most admired.

The singer and actress, 54, told Vanity Fair in 2023, “I don’t know how she continues to walk through this world with the grace, strength and purpose that she does given the unbearable amount of vitriol and hate she has been subjected to, but she does. I wish she didn’t have to.”

From left: Joy Woods, Meghan Markle and Jordan Tyson backstage at Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

The Duchess of Sussex, who graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in theater and international studies, also chatted with Joy Woods (who plays Louise) and Jordan Tyson (in costume as June) and posed for a group photo with the cast.

Tyson shared a photo of the trio on her Instagram Stories, captioning the snap, “Meet THEE princess. Thank you @meghan for coming to @gyspybway.”

Last month, Meghan’s friends Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King took in director George C. Wolfe’s production of the 1957 musical.

Winfrey got emotional, telling McDonald and the cast, “I leave here wanting to be a better human being because of what I saw here tonight, I’m telling you. I want to be a better human. I’ve never seen anything like that. Watching you all do what you do, and watching you just do what you did, makes us all want to pull from the center of ourselves and be that.”

Meghan Markle with the cast of Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

Meghan was recently in the Big Apple to celebrate the premiere of her latest Netflix show With Love, Meghan. On March 3, she made a surprise appearance at a screening of the series for her fans who have followed her since the days of her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig.

During the same trip, the Duchess of Sussex filmed an episode of The Drew Barrymore Show.

Meghan Markle meets the cast of Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

Before moving back to her home state of California in 2020, Meghan was based in Toronto, where she filmed Suits, before moving to the U.K. as her romance with Prince Harry progressed. But through the years, she often found herself back in New York City for visits, including a baby shower for their son, Prince Archie, in 2019.

Joy Woods (left) and Meghan Markle backstage at Gypsy on Broadway on April 10, 2025.Michaelah Reynolds

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Meghan’s unexpected outing in New York came as Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet war victims at a state-of-the-art facility.

The Duke of Sussex, who spent 10 years in the British Army including two tours in Afghanistan, was accompanied by a contingent from the Invictus Games Foundation, the adaptive sporting event for wounded and sick service personnel and veterans.

They visited the Superhumans Center in Lviv, a clinic supporting wounded military personnel and civilians that offers receive free prosthetics, surgery and psychological support. Harry was invited by CEO Olga Rudneva, both last year and again at the Invictus Games Vancouver-Whistler in February, according to a spokesperson.

Prince Harry visits war victims in Ukraine on April 10, 2025.Superhumans Centre

Before heading to Ukraine, the Duke of Sussex was in the U.K. to attend two days of court hearings surrounding his security appeal. Harry and Meghan were stripped of their police protection in his home country in 2020 after they stepped back as working members of the royal family.