Idris Elba Prince Charles thegrio.com
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales chats to actor Idris Elba and his partner Sabrina Dhowre as he hosts the ‘One Million Young Lives’ dinner at Buckingham Palace on December 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

On Thursday, Idris Elba met with Prince Charles in London, where he reportedly gushed about Meghan Markle and introduced Charles to his new girlfriend.

Sabrina Dhowre, theย former Miss Vancouver, was all smiles as she shook Prince Charlesโ€™ hand at theย One Million Young Dinner at Buckingham Palace.

And while Elba was grinning widely as he introduced his own girlfriend to the royal family, he couldnโ€™t help but gush about another powerful woman: Meghan Markle.

A โ€˜beaconโ€™ for the people

Elba praised Markle, who is engaged to marry Prince Harry next summer, as aย โ€œbeaconโ€ to the people of England.

โ€œMeghan Markle, as a person, regardless of her color, is a role model,โ€ he toldย Sky News. โ€œAs a strong woman marrying into our royal family, sheโ€™s going to be a role model for any woman.โ€

โ€“Idris Elba creates new comedy based on his childhood in Londonโ€“

โ€œThe point is that of course our society is one of mixed heritage and itโ€™s nice to see Meghan within the Royal Family,โ€ he added. โ€œItโ€™s great.โ€

โ€œAnd of course sheโ€™s going to be a beacon and of course sheโ€™s going to be someone that people look towards.โ€

The royal wedding

Thereโ€™s plenty to be excited about, too. Prince Harryย andย Meghan Markleย have officially set a wedding date.

Kensington Palace announcedย on Friday that the wedding will take place onย May 19, 2018,ย at St. Georgeโ€™s Chapel in Londonโ€™s Windsor Castle.

โ€“Idris Elba says he will never remarryโ€“

And while the country gets ready for the big wedding, Markle is getting closer to her future in-laws. She reportedly recently went to the queenโ€™s Christmas party for the palace staff, and sheโ€™s set to attend the Christmas party with the rest of the family on Christmas Day.

That makes the history-making Markle the first in yet another aspect: she is theย first unmarried partnerย to be invited to the Christmas party at the queenโ€™s country home.

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