Inside Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Pais...

It was a lovely lunch date for Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Paisley

Published Time: 24.07.2024 - 12:31:10 Modified Time: 24.07.2024 - 12:31:10

It was a lovely lunch date for Meghan Markle and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, and the actress, activist and author, 52, dined together at Tre Lune in Montecito, California, on July 21, where the pair caught up over pasta and wine.

A source exclusively tells PEOPLE, "They had a lovely experience, chatting and laughing together. The pair was low-key and was left unbothered by the other guests."

Though they were not previously photographed together before they were seen leaving Tre Lune, the two have lots in common both personally and professionally.

Both women are alumni of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Williams-Paisley graduated from the School of Communication in 1993, and the Duchess of Sussex earned her degree in 2003 with a double major in theater and international studies.

Meghan and Williams-Paisley also both share an acting background. Williams-Paisley, who is married to country star Brad Paisley, had her breakout role in the 1991 comedy Father of the Bride and most recently appeared in the movies Dog Gone and Jesus Revolution in 2023. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex starred in the first seven seasons of the legal drama Suits before stepping back from acting upon her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017.

Prince Harry, 39, and Paisley may have connected a few years ago, as both participated in the virtual Stand Up for Heroes fundraiser in 2020. The benefit, run by the Bob Woodruff Foundation, supports injured veterans and their families, aligning with the Duke of Sussex's longtime dedication to veterans. King Charles' son is a former captain in the British Army and founder of the Invictus Games.

In another tie, both couples share a commitment to paying it forward with a shared drive to address food insecurity. Meghan and Prince Harry founded the non-profit Archewell Foundation in 2020 to serve as an umbrella for their philanthropic endeavors, and the nonprofit has partnered with chef José -

Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich ,...

Andrés' World Central Kitchen since December 2020 to feed communities negatively impacted by humanitarian crises. The groups have worked together to build four Community Relief Centers around the world and distribute meals in Ukraine. Meghan also shared a recipe (lemon olive oil cake) for the charitable The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope cookbook published in September 2023.

In the fight to end hunger, the Paisleys established The Store in Nashville in 2020. The referral-based grocery store offers free food to families experiencing poverty in the Nashville area. The couple, who wed in 2003, opened up to PEOPLE in 2021 about the impact of providing nearly 1.3 million meals during The Store's first year of operation.

"This has been our dream," Williams-Paisley said at the time. "People will be able to come and shop with dignity and make choices for their family."Though the nonprofit is based in Tennessee, the couple has a second home in California with their sons Huck, 17, and Jasper, 15.

The Italian restaurant where Williams-Paisley and Meghan went to lunch on July 21 is in Montecito, the same neighborhood where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex live with their kids Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.Last summer, Harry and Meghan had a date night at Tre Lune a few days before Meghan's Aug. 4 birthday.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Harry and Meghan have had a quiet summer with their children since the couple returned from their trip to Nigeria in May. The visit was significant as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first official international trip since relocating to the U.S. in 2020.

"We’re just doing great. And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve. Of course, I'm happy. We're really happy," Meghan told PEOPLE on the tour.