If, like us, you're already suffering from Meghan Markle withdrawal symptoms - she hasn't been pictured since her first public engagement with Prince Harry last week - we can at least explain why she's been absent from public life, and probably will be over the next few months.

Although Markle will be spending Christmas with her 33-year-old royal fiancé - and is expected to be joining the Queen at Sandringham - and Kensington Palace has confirmed that she will be traveling to visit friends and family before settling into her new life at Kensington Palace.

After all, it's not surprising that the Suits star requires some downtime before teaming up with Harry to carry out royal duties and philanthropy work.

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Markle has spent the last seven years working on the hit legal drama Suits and been based in Toronto, away from friends and family from her native California. It was reported the star recently missed her close friend Serena Williams's wedding last month due to filming commitments for season seven of the series.

Following Harry and Markle's engagement announcement, her exit from Suits was finally confirmed by USA Network, and during the couple's joint engagement interview last week, Markle explained why she had made the decision to quit acting.

'What's been really exciting, as we talk about this as the transition out of my career... is that the causes that have been very important to me, I can focus even more energy on,' she said.

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'You realise that as you have access, or a voice that people are willing to listen to, [it comes with] a lot of responsibility, which I take seriously.'

Meanwhile, Harry attended his first solo duty since his engagement news at the annual London Fire Brigade carol service at Westminster Cathedral last night (5 December).

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Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas was also in attendance with her mother Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon, as was Pippa Middleton.

Harry and Markle recently completed their first royal duties since announcing their engagement by attending two separate engagements in Nottingham to raise awareness of both HIV/AIDS and youth crime.

The official date for the couple's wedding has yet to be confirmed, but the pair will be marrying at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May next year.

Elle UK has reached out for comment from Kensington Palace.

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Naomi Gordon

Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.