Meghan Markle has given a fresh bombshell interview to one of her favorite US publications in which she paid respect to the Queen while implying that her death and its aftermath were ‘difficult’ for Prince Harry but that he remained ‘ever-optimistic.’
Meghan took part in a stunning picture and video session for the magazine, where she was shown smiling and joking and even lying on her stomach kicking her legs with evident joy. For the photoshoot, she also donned a $2990 Carolina Herrera gown and a $1,560 Galvin gown.
The Duchess of Sussex spoke first on her recent trip to the UK with Harry, where their pseudo-royal tour was cut short by Her Majesty’s passing on September 8 at the age of 96.
But, hinting that her death had been difficult for Harry, who reportedly found out about his grandmother’s death just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks following: ‘It’s been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: “Now she’s reunited with her husband.”‘
Harry had arrived at Balmoral in tears after discovering that the Queen had died on a private plane while traveling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, supposedly declined to have supper with King Charles and Prince William, and sat in the back row for the burial, where he was not permitted to salute despite his military service.
Despite rumors that she and Harry have set out to harm the Royal Family since immigrating in 2020, Meghan stated in the interview that she is “proud” of her connection with the Queen and has a “good warmth” with her, referring to Her Majesty as a “matriarch.”
She said: ‘There’s been such an outpouring of love and support. I’m really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What’s so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her.
She added: ‘I’ve reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.’
And, for the first time, she spoke up about how she felt following the Oprah interview in which the Sussexes accused the Royal Family of racism, saying her California friends had rallied around her to support her.
She said: ‘It’s like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.’ But she said that the public has ‘misconceptions’ about her, adding: ‘I think that what happens, looking in from the outside, when there is this much noise, is that you become dehumanized’. She said she hopes her Archetypes podcast will help people see her as a ‘real person’.
Here are the highlights from yet another Meghan Markle interview.
Meghan on Queen Elizabeth II’s death:
‘There’s been such an outpouring of love and support. I’m really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What’s so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. It’s been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, ‘Now she’s reunited with her husband.’
Looking back on her connection with the Queen after her death:
‘I’ve reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.’
‘In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on. Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things we’ve been building toward. We’re also focused on our foundation. So much of the work we do includes the philanthropic space.’
On how she felt in the days following her bombshell Oprah interview:
‘Even before the interview, I hadn’t been out because I was so pregnant. The one thing I really remember was Gloria Steinem’s birthday, a few days after it aired. I really wanted to celebrate her at what I thought was just going to be a small and intimate birthday lunch. I envisioned it being us eating sandwiches in this cottage she was staying at. Instead, it was an extravaganza — by the way, as she deserves. But I hadn’t really seen people in a long time, and the interview had come out maybe a week before. Walking into a room alone is never easy for me, and I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable. But before I could let my uncertainty linger, Pamela Adlon came up to me and greeted me with such warmth and kindness. She toured me around the room, and at every turn, more generosity and love was felt. Maybe it’s just a testament to the kind of company Glo keeps, but I also think these women were extraordinary to ensure I felt so welcomed. It’s like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.’