Meghan Markle dines with Oprah Winfrey's TV exec Terry Wood at trendy Japanese restaurant in LA - just hours after lunch with her fashion designer friend Clare Waight Keller

Meghan Markle looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out for a dinner date with friends in Los Angeles - and she appeared to be dining with a very special guest.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, beamed as she arrived at the swanky Japanese Asanebo Restaurant in Studio City on Thursday.

She opted for a casual outfit with a gray sweater and gray skinny jeans, plus understated but very glamorous Chanel quilted ballet pumps. 

The former Suits star accessorized with a $3,670 Goyard Bellechasse Biaude PM Bag slung over her arm, according to the New York Post.

Her dinner pal for the evening was Oprah Winfrey's TV executive, Terry Wood, who was hired by the presenter's production company in 2019.

Meghan Markle looked effortlessly chic as she stepped out for a dinner date with friends in Los Angeles

She opted for a casual ensemble - pairing gray skinny jeans with a matching sweater and understated ballet pumps

Wood was hired by Winfrey five years ago to become vice president of her production company, Harpo Productions.

Variety reports the former Netflix aficionado's role was intended to 'spearhead original content' as she oversees a partnership between Oprah Winfrey and Apple. 

Wood was also an executive producer on Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with the stalwart TV presenter in 2021, shortly after they left the royal family.

Within the interview, the couple alleged that people within The Firm had expressed 'concerns' about the colour of Prince Archie's skin while the Duchess was pregnant with him.

Meghan also opened up about the struggles she faced with her mental health while a working member of the royal family.  

As the Duchess dined with the big TV name in LA, there was no sign of her husband - although it appeared the mother-of-two was having something of a 'girls' day' with another friend.

Earlier in the day, Meghan had grabbed lunch with the British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, the former artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy responsible for Meghan's bridal gown. 

She had showcased her high-end winter wardrobe and flashed a smile for paparazzi as she emerged from new celebrity hotspot Cipriani Beverly Hills - stepping into the warm 66°F weather wearing a $6,250 Max Mara cashmere coat in a 'tobacco' shade.

The Duchess carried a matching limited-edition suede clutch by Cesta Collective that comes with a $490 price tag - as well as sporting a black Bleusalt turtleneck, slacks by Ulla Johnson, shoes by Aquazzure and Givenchy sunglasses.

After her wedding, Meghan made her love for Clare's Givenchy designs clear - turning to the label to dress her for many prominent engagements, including her June 2018 outing at Ascot alongside the late Queen.

And, in December 2018, the Duchess expressed how close the two women had become when she made a surprise appearance at the British Fashion Awards, where she presented Clare with the prestigious British Womenswear Designer of the Year award. 

Clare left Givenchy in 2020 and last year created a new affordable line with Uniqlo. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, beamed as she arrived at the Asanebo Restaurant in Studio City on Thursday 

But the former Suits star then accessorized with a $3,670 Goyard Bellechasse Biaude PM Bag slung over her arm, according to the New York Post

Meghan's busy diary of outings comes after she helped open a new wing of an animal charity in London, with the announcement of her virtual visit made via her and Harry's glossy new Sussex.com website.

Additionally, in recent weeks, Prince Harry has reportedly told some of his friends that he was willing to return to the UK to attend to royal duties.

Sources told The Times of London that Harry, 39, wanted to help carry some of the load as his father King Charles, 75, undergoes cancer treatments.

Buckingham Palace previously confirmed the King, who only acceded to the throne 17 months ago, does not have prostate cancer, saying only that he has a 'form of cancer.'

He was diagnosed after a 'separate issue of concern was noted' and was investigated while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate.

Despite the current uncertainty around official duties, royal expert Hugh Vickers told MailOnline that Harry's presence wasn't desired by the family, despite reports that Charles is still keen to reconcile with him.

'I personally, actually don't think that there's any wish on anyone's side for him to come home at the moment, and take up royal duties again,' Vickers said.

'He can't suddenly pick up royal duties again, under the present circumstances, it's quite a long way [away]. It's always possible to reconcile. It's always possible for things to be sorted out, but not that quickly. So no, is the answer.'

Though Harry is a counsellor of state, both he and Meghan stepped down from their positions as working royals in 2020.