Meghan Markle reveals 12 out of her 40 celebrity mentors as she clocks 40 years old

Twelve activists, artists and world leaders have been named to help the Duchess of Sussex launch her 40x40 project, including singer Adele , TV anchor Katie Couric, designer Stella McCartney and poet Amanda Gorman.

Meghan Markle has asked 40 celebrities to participate in her 40th birthday initiative which aims to encourage people around the world to commit to giving 40 minutes of their time to support women going back to work. 

Adele, poet Amanda Gorman, TV anchor Katie Couric, Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie Trudeau, fashion designer Stella McCartney, Hollywood actress Melissa McCarthy, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, author Deepak Chopra, professor and anti-racism activist Dr Ibram X Kendi and feminist journalist Gloria Steinem, chef José Andrés, who is the founder of World Central Kitchen, and pediatrician Dr Nadine Burke Harris, who is the Surgeon General of California - but still has 28 more to identify.