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In this speech at UN Women in 2015, Meghan is introduced as just an "American TV and Film Actress. Before entering the royal picture, she was still a gender equality activist who encouraged young women to fight for justice.

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The royal wedding established Meghan's transformation from Hollywood star to global royal figure.

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Meghan played the role of ambitious paralegal Rachel Zane in USA's Suits from 2011 to 2018, retiring the role following her engagement to Prince Harry.

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The Suits creator only found out Meghan Markle was leaving when her engagement was announced

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In one of her final appearances as a working member of the royal family, the Duchess of Sussex invites a student on stage to speak about the value of women during a surprise visit to an east London school.

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'She's beautiful, innit?' - London student charms Meghan during school visit

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Part of Meghan's self-representation as a star is routed in her ability to open up and present herself as a real human, aside from marrying into the royal family. In the debut episode with her first guest and close friend, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd who also survived postpartum preeclampsia, the pair discussed how they'd both experienced the the rare and potentially life-threatening condition.

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Meghan reveals she had ‘rare and scary’ pre-eclampsia after giving birth

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The Duchess of Sussex said she was diagnosed with post-partum pre-eclampsia following childbirth.

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A podcast hosted by Meghan where she talks about her own experiences as an entrepreneur featuring intelligent, aware, confident women who have built successful companies.

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Confessions of a Female Founder with Meghan

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Business Podcast · Updated Weekly · As Meghan, Duchess of Sussex builds out a business of her own, she’s getting advice and insights from a handful of amazing women who have scaled small ideas into successful companies. These fly-on-the…

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Meghan Markle emerged as an actress for Netflix show Suits in 2011. Her portrayal of Rachel Zane

in Suits established her as a symbol of ambition and intelligence. Rachel's role a a paralegal who fought sexism and aspired to become a lawyer resonates with postfeminist notions of female empowerment, aligning Meghan's star image with independence, professionalism, and control within a male-dominated workspace. Rachel Zane embodies the postfeminist ideal as an independent yet aesthetically controlled individual (Gill, 2007) which shaped Meghan's early image.

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Meghan's blog The Tig, which she started in 2014, described itself as "a hub for the discerning palate - those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion and beauty". It was a lifestyle beat which featured recipes, travel guides, and beauty tips, as well as 'Tig Talks' with successful women such as Serena Williams and Dianna Agron.

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An archive of Meghan Markle's articles with her own written words and photos from her now defunct lifestyle blog The TIG.

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"Well, I loved The Tig, but I certainly love my husband more,"; Meghan shut down her lifestyle blog in 2017, as she entered royal life. This marks her first steps towards a more private life, away from Hollywood and big flashy cameras.

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Bye Tig, no big.

Meghan Markle shut down her lifestyle blog, the Tig, back in 2017 when she got engaged to her now-husband Prince Harry - a decision that she doesn't regret today.

"Well, I loved The Tig, but I certainly love my husband more," she said in a new interview with People magazine.

"So that was a choice I made at the time, and I wouldn't change that for a second," she added.

Markle, 43, launched the Tig in 2014 when she was starring on "Suits" in Toronto. She blogged about food, wellness and travel until her romance with Harry, 40, forced her to give up that passion project.

But now Markle is preparing to launch her new lifestyle brand, which had its name changed from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever following a slew of trademark snafus. She's planning to sell her signature jam and other products when the business goes live in the spring to coincide with the release of her Netflix show, which comes out Tuesday.

Speaking about Harry, Markle told People, "My husband met me when I had The Tig, and I see this spark in his eye when he sees me doing the thing that I was doing when he first met me."

The former actress added that the couple - who fled the United Kingdom in 2020 and now live in Montecito, California, with their two children - are in "a honeymoon period again."

"It's exactly how it was in the beginning when he'd watch me scribbling away, writing newsletters, fine-tuning edits and just really being in the details of it," she said. "I think he loves watching as much as I love doing that creative process. It's just been fun. This is who I've always been."

Markle explained that she and Harry are like any other couple, with individual projects but things they "share together," like their Archewell Foundation.

"We've been such a close team for so long that we're just in it beat by beat with each other," she shared. "And I love that. To be able to be a female founder and do that with my husband's support means everything."

The former actress also gave rare insight into her and Harry's social lives in Montecito.

"We go to a lot of dinners, and not just in people's homes or private rooms; we just go into the restaurant," she said. "I really love that we can just have fun."

Markle said the pair enjoy "day dates" in the afternoons, where they have a quiet lunch together, and "nightcap recaps" in the evenings, where they drink together and talk about their day and make lunch boxes for son Archie, 5, and daughter Lilibet, 3.

They also watch TV together, Markle said. "We love 'Shrinking'; we just finished 'Black Doves,' and we're excited for the new season of 'The White Lotus.'"

She told People about her normal routine as a mom of two young children as well.

"I'm up before my kids are, so I'm normally up at 6:30, and then I get them up and dressed for the day, and we go downstairs," Markle said. "I love making breakfast for my family."

"My husband and Archie both love fried eggs," she went on. "There's a lot of bacon around here. And then sometimes you don't have time for all that, and you just put a frozen waffle in the toaster and call it a day. And there's no shame in that either."

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Meghan Markle reveals if she regrets shutting down lifestyle blog the Tig for Prince Harry romance

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Meghan Markle told People magazine whether she regrets shutting down her lifestyle blog, the Tig, after she got engaged to Prince Harry.

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Combined, these aspects shaped an image of modern ambition and self-sufficiency. Her tone combined lifestyle luxury with accessible feminism, and set up her early image as both relatable and an aspirational icon.

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The TIG is a hub for the discerning palate - those with a hunger for food, travel, fashion & beauty.

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An emotional-looking prince and his smiling bride exchanged vows and rings before the Queen and 600 guests at St George's Chapel.

Ms Markle, wearing a white boat-neck dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller, was walked down the aisle by Prince Charles.

At the altar, Prince Harry told her: "You look amazing."

After the service the couple - who will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - kissed in front of cheering well-wishers on the steps of the chapel.

Thousands of members of the public turned out in bright sunshine to see them driven around Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage.

Later, Prince Harry drove the couple to their reception in a 1968 silver blue Jaguar that has been converted to run on electric power, with a registration plate that referenced the date - E190518.

Guests at the wedding included Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, David and Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John, who later performed at the wedding reception.

Ms Markle's sculpted dress was designed by Ms Waight Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.

Most striking was a diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, and a trailing five-metre silk veil embroidered with the flowers of each country in the Commonwealth.

Prince Harry, 33, and his brother and best man, the Duke of Cambridge, wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals.

He was given special permission from the Queen to keep his short beard as it is customary to be clean-shaven when dressed in Army uniform.

Their 10 young bridesmaids and pageboys - including Prince George and Princess Charlotte - rose to the occasion.

However, the excitement became too much for one of the younger ones who started crying just before Ms Markle, 36, entered the chapel.

Prince Charles walked Ms Markle down the aisle, after her father, Thomas, was unable to attend for health reasons.

Mr Markle, 73, reportedly watched the ceremony from California. He told the US celebrity website, TMZ: "My baby looks beautiful and she looks very happy."

Ms Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, stayed with her daughter overnight before accompanying her to the chapel.

Dressed in a pale green Oscar de la Renta dress, with a neat hat, an emotional-looking Ms Ragland sat alone on the bride's side of the chapel for some time.

As the witnesses were called to sign the register, Ms Ragland appeared to accept an outstretched hand from Prince Charles with some relief.

In her vows, Ms Markle did not promise to "obey" her husband, while the prince has broken with royal tradition by choosing to wear a wedding ring.

Prince Harry's ring is a platinum band with a textured finish and Ms Markle's has been made from a piece of Welsh gold.

The wedding service combined British tradition with modernity and the bride's African-American heritage.

The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, the president of the US Episcopal Church, gave an address, the Rt Rev David Conner, Dean of Windsor, conducted the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, officiated.

"There's power, power in love," said Bishop Curry, who was invited to speak by Ms Markle.

"If you don't believe me think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to centre around you and your beloved."

In a fiery, passionate speech, he also referenced the African-American spiritual song Down by the Riverside, which was sung by slaves, and when he realised he had gone on too long, he told his audience he had better wrap up as "we gotta get you all married!"

Speaking afterwards, Bishop Curry said it was "a joyful thing" to see diversity in the ceremony, adding: "That happened today, in different ways, different songs, different perspectives, different worlds and all of it came together and gave God thanks."

Lady Jane Fellowes, the sister of Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, gave a reading from the Song of Solomon.

Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir performed Ben E King's soul classic Stand By Me during the service.

As the bride and groom signed the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason - who won the 2016 BBC's Young Musician - performed three pieces by Faure, Schubert and Maria Theresia von Paradis.

He was accompanied by musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia.

The gospel choir also performed Etta James' uplifting version of Amen/This Little Light of Mine as the newlyweds left the chapel.

After the service, the duke and duchess travelled through Windsor along a route lined by tens of thousands of well-wishers.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said more than 100,000 people visited the town on Saturday.

It was a traditional wedding - the dress, the bridesmaids, the vows, the hymns. And it was very, very different.

The Palace made it clear in a stream of announcements that they wanted a different kind of wedding.

But it was the service that marked this out as a modern, diverse wedding for a modern, diverse couple: the Kingdom Gospel choir setting toes tapping, a young black cellist, and a breathtaking address from Bishop Curry, the President of the Episcopal Church.

Every royal wedding is a chance for the Royal Family to relaunch and reinvent. There may have been trouble in the week before the wedding. But that is in the past.

This wedding was about the future, a different future for the Royal Family.

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All 600 guests were invited to a lunchtime reception at St George's Hall, hosted by the Queen. The best man, the Duke of Cambridge, acted as compere.

Guests were treated to a performance by Sir Elton John and were served langoustine canapes, Windsor lamb, and champagne and pistachio macaroons. Instead of a formal sit-down dinner, food was served in bowls.

The reception also included the cutting of the lemon and elderflower-flavoured wedding cake.

Guest Suhani Jalota, the founder of the India-based Myna Mahila charity, said Elton John performed a "mini-concert". She added that speeches by the Prince of Wales and the groom were "lovely", adding: "Some people were even crying."

Posting on Instagram, David Beckham said: "Watching Harry as happy as he was makes us all proud of the man and person he has always been... what a day."

Other celebrities attending were tennis star Serena Williams, TV personality James Corden, singer James Blunt, actress Carey Mulligan and former England rugby player Jonny Wilkinson.

Prince Harry's uncle, Earl Spencer; the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson; and the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, were also invited.

Politicians, including Prime Minister Theresa May, were not invited, as it is not a state event.

But the former Prime Minister, Sir John Major - a special guardian on legal matters to Princes William and Harry after the death of their mother - was among the invited guests.

About 1,200 members of the public - many who were recognised for their charity work - were invited into the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding.

Among them was 13-year-old Leonora Ncomanzi, who was overjoyed when she got a wave from the bride herself.

"Meghan waved at me! When she was in the carriage, she saw me and waved - we've got it on video," she said.

And Pamela Anomneze, in her 50s, said it had been a "wonderful feeling" to catch a glimpse of the Queen.

On Saturday evening, the newlyweds are celebrating with 200 close friends and family at a private reception less than a mile from Windsor Castle at Frogmore House, hosted by Prince Charles.

Ms Markle was expected to break with tradition for royal brides and make a speech at the event.

The Royal Family will pay for the wedding, including the service, music, flowers and reception.

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Royal wedding 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan married at Windsor

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Hundreds of guests watched the couple exchange vows in a ceremony featuring a gospel choir and an American preacher.

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Meghan and Harry marry in trailblazing ceremony | CNN

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The couple sealed their wedding with a joyous kiss after a groundbreaking ceremony that didn’t challenge royal norms so much as drive a gilded coach and horses through them.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry marry as millions watch

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Couple exchange vows in Windsor Castle chapel before celebrity-studded congregation

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In British media such as The Sun and Daily Mail coverage during 'Megxit', Meghan is often represented through the lens of tradition and decorum. She is often framed as transgressive; too outspoken, too political, too modern, disrupting royal stability. However, US outlets like Variety celebrate her as an empowered feminist entrepreneur with values of self-determination and resilience. The same Meghan means different things across cultures.

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Media coverage framed Meghan as a symbol of progress and diversity, but this idealised narrative built tension between fairytale and real life that underlies her later backlash.

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Tabloid representations of Meghan as 'difficult' or 'divisive created a racialised narrative that contrasted her earlier image of empowerment. These portrayals reflect how the British press weaponises femininity and race to manage authenticity within the monarchy. Meghan's difference was racialised through the media (Hall, 1997), positioning her as an outsider within a white institution.

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Meghan's style is deliberately minimalist and symbolic, echoing Princess Diana's elegance. Her clothes portray semiotic meaning; simultaneously projecting grace and control as she manages the pressures of representation.

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Happy 43rd Birthday, Meghan Markle: A Look at Her Red Carpet Fashion Journey Before Royal Life

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A look at Meghan Markle’s red carpet fashion journey before royal life, which includes unique outfits from the late aughts and mid-2010s.

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Meghan's star image fuses activism with self-branding and authenticity. This is central to her value as a commodity,

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Post-royalty, Meghan's repositioning in the US media suggests a return to a self-managed celebrity, one that is polished, selective, and media-driven. Her reinvention demonstrates how stars survive conflict by regaining control and purpose in new cultural contexts.

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Fashion and lifestyle blogs that keep up with and share Meghan's closet.

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A fashion blog chronicling the style and outfits of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex

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Meghan Markle reportedly has a head full of dreams and ideas for her brand, As Ever, which she intends to use to cement her billionaire status. Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have a combined net worth of $60 million, but that staggering fortune might not be enough for her. A new report cited a royal expert, who claimed the former actor wants to become a billionaire using her lifestyle brand and weighed in on the subject.

Meghan Markle 'wants to become a billionaire,' per royal source

The Daily Mail shared a report on an expert's comments on Meghan Markle's plans to become a billionaire in a Channel 5 documentary. Royal commentator Emily Andrews touched upon the subject while speaking in "The Meghan Effect: How She Shook Up the Royal Family," claiming that those close to Markle have revealed her desire to acquire more fortune using her lifestyle brand, As Ever. The royal source said, "I've been told by those close to Meghan that she wants to become a billionaire."

Andrews believes the "Suits" alum will have to take her brand to the highest level of success as she "possibly can," adding that making jam might be "just the beginning." She further suggested that "moving into hospitality more generally" might just do the trick for Markle and help her make progress on the road toward acquiring the vast fortune. Meanwhile, the report mentioned that PR experts believe couture and makeup could also work for her.

Markle's lifestyle brand, As Ever, has witnessed remarkable success since its launch, potentially setting her path to billionaire status. But reports have also mentioned that certain product releases, including the launch of its rosé wine, faced significant backlash.

The Duchess of Sussex's business venture recently launched its 2025 Holiday Collection after dropping multiple teasers on social media. The launch included their signature spreads - scented candles, honey, and a spice kit - as gift sets just in time for the season.

Besides working on her brand, Markle also made quite a mark in the fashion industry, making her Paris Fashion Week debut. She attended Balenciaga's show in early October and sat front row alongside other fashion elites.

The post Meghan Markle to Cement Billionaire Status Using Brand - Source appeared first on Reality Tea.

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Meghan Markle to Cement Billionaire Status Using Brand - Source

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Meghan Markle reportedly has a head full of dreams and ideas for her brand, As Ever, which she intends to use to cement her billionaire status. Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have a combined net worth of $60 million, but that staggering fortune might not be enough for her.

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Officially launched on April 2, 2025. 'A collection of products, each inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining, and hostessing with ease.'

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Created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, As ever welcomes you to a collection of products, each inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining, and hostessing with ease.

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This trailer for Live to Lead was released on December 9, 2022. The show sought to spotlight leaders and activists making a difference. Featured interviews include former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, climate change activist Greta Thunberg, social justice attorney and advocate Bryan Stevenson and Siya Kolisi; feminist icon and social justice activist. 'Live to Lead is a Nelson Mandela Foundation project created and directed by Geoff Blackwell, and executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.'

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Live to Lead | Official Trailer | Netflix

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Meghan also features in scenes of the Duke's own Netflix show where viewers follow a group of competitors as they train for the 2022 Invictus Games, a global sporting event founded by Prince Harry for wounded service members.

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Watch Heart of Invictus | Netflix Official Site

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Follow a group of competitors as they train for the 2022 Invictus Games, a global sporting event founded by Prince Harry for wounded service members.

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Inside Meghan Markle’s Noughties handbag collection

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From Prada clutches to Louis Vuitton holdalls, take a look inside the royal’s 00s accessories archive - see more

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Tabloids including The Sun and The Independent popularised the term 'Megxit,' which reduced her departure from royalty to a gendered blame narrative, portraying Meghan as manipulative and controlling.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced on January 8, 2020, they would be stepping down as 'senior' members of the Royal Family. Latest news and updates from The Sun.

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This widely circulated article highlighted media hypocrisy, contrasting positive coverage of Kate Middleton with negative depictions of Meghan. It exposed the media's racial and class biases, fuelling online debate about systemic prejudice in British press culture, and encouraging sympathy for Meghan as a victim of institutional injustice.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) didn't just shockingly " step back" as senior members of the royal family this week - they gave the UK media a big "fuck-you" for years of what they said was biased and unfair coverage.

The couple's new website on breaking up with years of royal protocol laid out - among a lot of other things - their media strategy, stating that they will no longer participate in the traditional royal press system that grants exclusive access to a select group of UK outlets.

Britain's royal correspondents, they said, are seen as reliable sources of information. "This misconception propels coverage that is often carried by other outlets around the world, amplifying frequent misreporting," they wrote. Removing themselves from "royal rota" coverage has sparked an outcry among UK media and drew a protest from the National Union of Journalists.

This isn't a new complaint from the royal couple - they just took an unprecedented step to do something about it. Harry and Meghan have said publicly that they believe they have been treated unfairly by the UK press since the moment news broke of their relationship - that they are bullied, that there are racist undertones to coverage of them, and that they have been held to a different standard than Harry's brother and sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Prince William and Kate Middleton).

The UK media outlets that currently make up the royal rota are the Daily Express, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the Evening Standard, the Telegraph, the Times, and the Sun.

Here is a look at 20 stories from these outlets that appear to show a double standard between press coverage of Meghan and Kate. BuzzFeed News has reached out to all of the outlets featured below for comment.

Kate and William: "Prince William was given one of the green fruit - wrapped up in a bow - by a little boy who's mother is suffering during her pregnancy too... 'He said he'd take it to [Kate] and see what happens - and said good luck for [the boy's] mummy.'" Express: Sept. 14, 2017

Meghan: "The pregnant Duchess of Sussex and so-called 'avocado on toast whisperer' is wolfing down a fruit linked to water shortages, illegal deforestation and all round general environmental devastation." Express: Jan. 23, 2019

Kate and William: "Creating their own companies will allow William and Kate to bring out, should they ever chose to, myriad items of officially-endorsed merchandise from tea towels to coffee cups... Kensington Palace officials said they were doing the 'sensible thing' in protecting the couple's rights." Daily Mail: Jan. 17, 2014

Meghan and Harry: "The Sussexes want to stamp their name on dozens of products including T-shirts, hoodies, journals and gloves for their newly-created foundation Sussex Royal... Experts said Harry and Meghan were actively preparing to quit the Royal Family months ago by filing trade mark applications to commercially protect their brand." Daily Mail: Jan. 9, 2020

Kate and William: "Prince William yesterday backed brother Harry's brave admission of his mental anguish - and blasted the monarchy's 'stiff upper lip' tradition... William said: 'There may be a time and a place for the 'stiff upper lip' but not at the expense of your health... '

"'Catherine and I are clear we want both George and Charlotte to grow up feeling able to talk about their emotions and feelings. Over the past year we have visited a number of schools together where we have been amazed listening to children talk about some quite difficult subjects in a clear and emotionally articulate way, something most adults would struggle with. Seeing this has really given me hope things are changing and there is a generation coming up who find it normal to talk openly about emotions.'" Sun: April 19, 2017

Meghan and Harry: "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have bucked royal tradition once again with their latest TV interview - in which they claimed they were 'existing, not living.' The couple ditched the stiff upper lip of previous Royal Family generations and flew the flag for 'Generation Therapy' as they revealed their emotions to the world - but were they right to do so?

"What you make of 'fragile' Prince Harry and Meghan's comments may depend on your generation. Sun parents and kids reveal what they think of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex airing their emotions in public - and whether they have the right to moan in such positions of privilege..." Sun: Oct. 23, 2019

Kate: "As far as bridal bouquets go there was nothing particularly regal about Kate Middleton's modest arrangement of simple, seasonal flowers. Like the bride herself the bouquet was effortlessly elegant and understated.

"Yet behind that modest posy lay a secret story. Kate, the commoner-turned-duchess, had painstakingly selected blooms with real meaning. She is evidently well-versed in the language of flowers, a little-known romantic relic from the 19th century.

"Hence the use of lilac in her bouquet, which signifies the first emotions of love, the lily of the valley meaning a return of happiness, hyacinth standing for constancy, myrtle meaning love and the ivy, which represents fidelity. Then of course there was the suitably named Sweet William, which is shorthand for gallantry." Express: Aug. 29, 2011

Meghan: "[Meghan Markle] was holding a wedding bouquet which flowers were replicated in Princess Charlotte and the other bridesmaids' flower crowns. Express.co.uk can now reveal the children' crowns were made of flowers that can be deadly, especially for children. Meghan's bouquet was made of forget-me-nots as well as sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, and astrantia...

"Lily of the valley is a highly poisonous woodland flowering plant and ingestion could be deadly... As Meghan's bridesmaids were so young, having this flower on their heads could be considered a dangerous decision. Other brides have also used this flowers including Kate Middleton, Princess Eugenie and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall." Express: Oct. 13, 2019

Kate: "It is a fashion conundrum not many of us will ever face, but what exactly does one wear for tea with the Queen? The Duchess of Cambridge met this challenge head on yesterday by co-ordinating her outfit with the Queen's powder blue ensemble... The Queen, on her first official event to mark her Diamond Jubilee, was dressed in a pastel hat and two-piece coat dress with military-style rows of gold buttons designed by Angela Kelly. Looking relaxed and elegant, her outfit was perfect for what looked like a fun official engagement with the girls." Mirror: Feb. 14, 2013
"The Queen's aides had told [Meghan] she would be wearing a green hat as a mark of respect to those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire. The Queen is said to have been 'baffled' when Meghan turned up without a hat as she didn't realize she was supposed to wear one too. A senior aide said: 'I don't think the Duchess fully understood. This was not a request. Those are for others to make, not the Queen.' The Queen's staff are said to have noted the Duchess's mistake or 'lack of deference.'" Mirror: Oct. 29, 2018

Kate: "We see a woman in her prime: stylish, confident and positively radiant, nailing outfit after outfit in the style stakes - and it's a joy to witness... That old uniform of girlish dresses, tan tights and nude heels has been replaced by dazzling super-chic outfits to satisfy even the most exacting fashionista." Daily Mail: June 16, 2019

Meghan: "Proper royalty is about tradition and duty, self-effacing service and loyalty - year after year after year, season after season... That is not to say that a monarchy cannot or must not move with the times - simply that it has to resist the temptation to be buffeted by passing cultural trends. Fashion is the exact opposite. And as fashion's most famous bible, Vogue exemplifies the transient nature of the beast." Daily Mail: July 29, 2019

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Here Are 20 Headlines Comparing Meghan Markle To Kate Middleton That Might Show Why She And Prince Harry Are Cutting Off Royal Reporters

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Over the years, Meghan has been shamed for the same things for which her sister-in-law, Kate, has been praised.

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This headline "How Meghan's favourite avocado snack - beloved of all millennials - is fuelling human rights abuses, drought and murder" highlights the media's tendencies to frame Meghan's lifestyle through moral outrage. Seemingly normal and trivial habits are politicised to undermine her moral credibility.

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The Duchess of Sussex has rightly been praised for making the fusty old Royal Family more socially and ethically aware.

But that was until an old friend from her Hollywood days was invited round for a bite to eat and posted online a picture of what was widely assumed to be high tea.

Pride of place went to avocado on toast -on silver platters, no less. 'Still being the avocado toast whisperer, YUM!', trilled her guest, Daniel Martin. The celebrity make-up artist said it took him back to the days when he and Meghan Markle collaborated on her lifestyle blog, The Tig.

'The consummate hostess,' he enthused.Well, perhaps not so much.

The campaigning duchess may be passionate when it comes to racial equality and female empowerment, but for someone who wants to save the planet, she's committed something of a faux pas with avocados.

For all their health benefits and tastiness, the fact is that rampant avocado production in the Third World has been linked with water shortages, human rights abuses, illegal deforestation, ecosystem destruction and general environmental devastation.

It has proved so lucrative in Mexico that it has been dubbed 'green gold' and is even filling the coffers of brutal drug cartels.

In her defence, the duchess is hardly the only celebrity who's extolled the wonders of avocados, which are full of vitamins, proteins and healthy fats.

The lifeblood of the millennial generation - who can't stop posting pictures of avocado on toast on Instagram - this so-called 'super food' has been championed by everyone from nutritionists to Hollywood stars.

The duchess revealed in her Grenfell cookbook that a green chilli and avocado dip was a favourite. Pop star Miley Cyrus went further with an avocado tattoo on her arm.

Grown in Mexico for 9,000 years, the avocado has come a long way since the 16th century, when Spanish conquistadors disparagingly called it aguacate, after ahuacatl, Aztec for testicle. Between 2000 and 2015, avocado consumption in the U.S. tripled. In the UK, the avocado market is estimated to be worth around £200 million a year.

But it has become a victim of its own popularity, prompting restaurants and cafes to remove it from menus over concerns about its environmental and social impact.

The Wild Strawberry Cafe in Bucks substituted avocados, its most popular item, with garlic-sauteed mushrooms on toast. Its owner cited the 'demand on avocado farmers, pushing up prices to the point where there are even reports of Mexican drug cartels controlling lucrative exports'.

Tincan Coffee in Bristol has replaced 'avo' with pea guacamole after they were judged not to 'fit' with it's 'core beliefs'. The Wildflower Restaurant in South London followed suit, citing the violence in Mexico.

Its chef, Joseph Ryan, suggested the world may be entering a 'post-avocado era'.

Haute cuisine has also jumped on board. In Ireland, the Michelin-starred chef JP McMahon has called them the 'blood diamonds of Mexico' and compared avocados to battery chickens. Where trendy restaurants and chefs go, the image-conscious supermarkets may not be far behind.

The problems that come from the West's trendy fascination with avocados have a lot to do with geography. Some 40 per cent come from Mexico and almost all of that is grown in the rural western state of Michoacan.

The region's fertile volcanic soil and temperate climate allow avocados to be harvested all year round (in other countries they can only be harvested in summer). The rich soil means the notoriously thirsty avocado trees need only a third as much water as they do elsewhere.

Mexico now makes more money exporting avocados than oil. Unfortunately, Michoacan is also home to some of Mexico's most violent cartels. They include La Familia Michoacana, whose leaders once tossed five rivals' heads on to the dance floor of a nightclub; their equally vicious rivals in the Knights Templar, a quasi-religious death cult; and Los Viagras, named for their leader's heavily moussed, erect hair.

In Michoacan, the cartels now make more money from avocados than cannabis. Some drug criminals are becoming growers themselves, others simply terrorise the industry. Avocado farmers, who in Michoacan can easily earn more than £115,000 a year, a vast sum in Mexico, live in continual fear of kidnapping and extortion.

The Knights Templar started charging a fee for every box of avocados gathered by farmers. They also extorted money from the fertiliser and pesticide retailers. Many farmers have been forced to hand over the title deeds to their farms.

If they don't pay protection money, growers and packers risk being raped or killed, their bodies tied to avocado trees with warning notices attached. Some kidnapped farmers have been killed even after their families paid their ransom.

A businessman whose family refused to pay up was chained to one of his trees and shot dead. Officials estimated the Knights Templar alone earn as much as £115 million a year from avocados.

The cartel's 2014 kidnap, rape and murder of an avocado farmer's young daughter prompted the town of Tancitaro to drive out the Knights after a bloody battle. However, the cartels remain a menacing presence.

Mexico's avocado industry is also accused of damaging the health of locals with the chemicals sprayed on the orchards. Experts are concerned that the fumigation of the trees is behind growing breathing and stomach problems, and may be polluting water supplies.

Unscrupulous farmers are clearing land for avocado orchards, often illegally by cutting down oak and pine forests. The latter provide a crucial winter nesting ground for the imperilled Monarch butterfly.

Indeed, a Mexican government study concluded that soaring avocado production has caused a loss of biodiversity, environmental pollution and soil erosion. It has also damaged the natural water cycle and threatened the survival of animal species only found in the area. Farmers exacerbate deforestation by using trees for avocado crates.

We can't be certain where Meghan's avocados came from, but fashionable eaters who think they can safely switch to sourcing them from the Dominican Republic, Chile or Peru should think again.

Wherever they come from, the thousands of miles any avocado has to travel to get to Britain means they leave a heavy carbon footprint.

This is because they are perishable but cannot be frozen because it alters their texture.

They must therefore be transported either by air or in air-conditioned container ships so they ripen at just the right moment.

Their relatively heavy weight and bulky packaging to prevent bruising further ratchets up their carbon footprint. Two avocados have a footprint of 846g of CO2, compared to 160g for two bananas.

The enormous amounts of water required to grow avocados is even more of an eco-issue in countries without Mexico's volcanic soil. It can take as much as 1,000 litres (220 gallons) to grow a single kilo (about three avocados).

The Chilean province of Petorca is suffering an acute water shortage thanks to 'green gold'. Water has been privatised in Chile (which specialises in the Hass variety so popular in the UK), meaning that those who pay - such as deep-pocketed big avocado growers - can use as much as they want.

When activists complained after a 2012 aerial survey revealed 64 pipelines were diverting river water underground to irrigate the orchards, they received death threats. Local rivers have now dried up and supplies have to be trucked in for local people while the avocado farms rely on artificial reservoirs.

Although the avocado is essentially a jungle plant, greedy growers are determined to cultivate it in dry, perennially sunny areas such as California, where orchards sap water from a state already prone to wildfires and drought.

In Israel, avocado trees are irrigated with treated waste-water, prompting fears that harmful nano-particles are not only permanently damaging the soil but penetrating the fruit.

The Chinese are being gripped by avocado mania, too, so demand is expected to keep soaring.

But given the damaging cost of 'avocado fever', might it not be better to eat them more sparingly - and not, for example, serve them up on silver platters?

Since Meghan's guest was invited to high tea, surely it should have been a case of let him eat cake.

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How Meghan's favourite avocado snack is fuelling human rights abuses

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The Duchess of Sussex has rightly been praised for making the fusty old Royal Family more socially and ethically aware. But that was until an old friend from her Hollywood days was invited round for a bite to eat and posted online a picture of what was widely assumed to be high tea.

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This 2021 interview with host Oprah Winfrey marked Meghan's reclaiming as narrator of her own trauma and truth after years of backlash. Her disclosure of racism and silencing reframed her star image to a survivor and a teller of truth.

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Winfrey: ''Were you silent or were you silenced?''

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As guest editor of the British Vogue "Forces for Change" issue in 2019, Meghan curated a diverse group of female changemakers. This editorial contributed to her shift from passive royal to an active voice for social justice.

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HRH The Duchess of Sussex has guest-edited a landmark issue of British Vogue with editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Entitled "Forces for Change", the September 2019 issue highlights a cast of brilliant female changemakers who are set to re-shape society in radical and positive ways. It is the first time a September issue of British Vogue has been co-edited.
Read more: Peter Lindbergh On The Making Of The Forces For Change Cover
The cover has been photographed by Peter Lindbergh - his first for the magazine since September 1992 - and features 15 women from the worlds of politics, sport, and the arts, all of whom have made an inspiring impact on modern life. The selection of women was a highly personal process for the Duchess and for Enninful, and the result of a collaboration that began in January of this year.
Read more: 7 Era-Defining Peter Lindbergh British Vogue Covers
"These last seven months have been a rewarding process, curating and collaborating with Edward Enninful, British Vogue 's editor-in-chief, to take the year's most-read fashion issue and steer its focus to the values, causes and people making impact in the world today," the Duchess said. "Through this lens I hope you'll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light. I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the 'Forces for Change' they'll find within these pages."

The cover line-up includes New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who, in a first for the magazine and for Lindbergh, was photographed for the cover in Auckland, New Zealand via video link; the teenaged climate activist Greta Thunberg, lensed by Lindbergh in Sweden, who at 16 is one of the magazine's youngest ever cover stars; the activist and actor Jane Fonda, who, at 81, is its oldest; and the LGBTQIA+ advocate, actor and producer Laverne Cox, who becomes the first trans person to feature on the cover of British Vogue.
Read more: Jane Fonda On Why Now, In Her Eighties, She Finally Feels Whole
Also on the cover is Adwoa Aboah, the mental health campaigner and model; Adut Akech, the former refugee and model; Ramla Ali, the former refugee and boxer; Sinéad Burke, the diversity advocate and lecturer; Gemma Chan, the campaigner and actor; Salma Hayek Pinault, the women's rights advocate, actor and producer; Francesca Hayward, the Royal Ballet principal dancer and actress; Jameela Jamil, the body positivity activist and actor; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the author; Yara Shahidi, the youth voting activist and actor; and Christy Turlington Burns, the maternal health advocate and model.
Read more: Climate Change Activist Greta Thunberg Is Nominated For The Nobel Peace Prize Aged 16
The 16th spot on the cover will appear in print as a silver reflective mirror, to show how you, the reader, are part of this extraordinary moment in time - and to encourage you to use your own platform to bring change.
Read more: Prince Harry Teams Up With His (And Meghan's) Hero Dr Jane Goodall To Promote Conservation
The issue also comprises an intimate insight into the Duchess's world. She introduces Forces for Change in her own words in her guest editor's letter, and also contributes an interview with the former First Lady Michelle Obama. Other highlights include an interview conducted by her husband, HRH The Duke of Sussex, with the renowned ethologist Dr Jane Goodall.
Read more: HRH The Duchess of Sussex Interviews Michelle Obama In The September Issue The September issue of British Vogue co-edited by HRH The Duchess of Sussex is available for digital download now on the App Store and for Android, and on newsstands on Friday, August 2. More from British Vogue:

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HRH The Duchess Of Sussex Guest Edits The September Issue Of British Vogue

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HRH The Duchess of Sussex has guest-edited a landmark issue of British Vogue with editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Entitled "Forces for Change", the September 2019 issue highlights a cast of brilliant female changemakers who are set to re-shape society in radical and positive ways. It is the first time a September issue of British Vogue has been co-edited.

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The Archewell Foundation is a non-profit organisation which was founded by Prince Harry and Meghan in 2020. Its mission states 'show up, do good'. They partner with key organisations and leaders to drive change and acts of service. The brand's emphasis on compassion and community builds a star image grounded in purpose and ethical leadership.

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The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

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The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

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The Official site for Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex

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A podcast hosted by Meghan which offered her a platform to investigate, dissect, and subvert labels such as 'diva' that exist to hold women back. As she invites high-profile female guests, she reclaims narrative authority and emotional truth.

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'Meghan Radiates Elegance at 2023 Variety Power of Women': Attending an event by a glossy profile like Variety that celebrates influential women in the entertainment industry helped to reinvent Meghan as a confident and cultural entrepreneur. She was rebirthing her brand.

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What Meghan Wore - The original What Meghan Markle Wore site chronicling the fashion, style and charities of The Duchess of Sussex

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This evening the Duchess of Sussex attended the Variety Power of Women event, presented by Lifetime Television. The event celebrated influential women in the entertainment industry and their philanthropic endeavors.

Embed from Getty Images

Meghan graced the occasion in a stunning ensemble that seamlessly blended sophistication with a touch of modern flair. The Duchess opted for a beige Proenza Schouler gown that accentuated her radiant presence. She paired the gown with a clutch from the same brand and shoes from Aquazzura.

Embed from Getty Images

The event commemorates the latest honorees of Variety's Power of Women, each of whom graces the cover of the esteemed publication. Meghan attended the event after being honored last year, expressing her "pride" to be present and extend her support, as conveyed to reporters on the vibrant red carpet.

"We have so many exciting things on the slate. I can't wait until we can announce them. But I'm just really proud of what we're creating. My husband is loving it, too. It's really fun." - Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex

Meghan on the cover of Variety, October 2022 as a Power of Women 2022 honoree.

This year's Power of Women spotlight shines on Fantasia Barrino, Billie Eilish, Lily Gladstone, and Carey Mulligan. Notably, the prestigious Producer of the Year award was bestowed upon LuckyChap co-founders Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara.

While Meghan attended the event solo, sans Prince Harry, she took a moment to share her favorite holiday tradition with reporters - relishing every moment of the festive season with their "little ones."

Embed from Getty Images

Now our look at what Meghan wore for tonight's event.

Getty - AFP | Lisa O'Connor

UPDATE 11/17: Proenza Schouler shared this information about Meghan's dress on Instagram. The dress is a custom version of the 'Rosa' dress (as shown below) in Fawn Matte Viscose Crepe.

Meghan wore a gown from Proenza Schouler - a version of their 'Rosa' dress. We show the 'Rosa' dress in black ($1390) and beige leather ($2990) below.

Get-the-Look with this affordable option: Gibson & Latimer One Shoulder Dress, $79.

Her bag is also from Proenza Schouler - the Flip shoulder bag in black leather, $1390.

Her shoes are from Aquazzura - the 'Dangerous Liaisons' 105mm pump in black, $895 (now $538).

UPDATE 11/17 - CONFIRMED: **We've received confirmation that Meghan's ring and earrings are from Mejuri.

The brand let us know that Meghan's ring is the Mejuri - the 'Charlotte' bold ring, $98.

Her earrings are the Mejuri Chunky Huggie Hoops in gold, $98. If you sign up with them they are offering 20% off $150 or more for Black Friday.

Please read carefully - Ariel Gordon also has identical pieces to her ring and earrings. We had also reached out to the brand and did not hear back - The Lady Finger Ring in 14k gold, $1850, and Fat Tire Huggie hoop earrings, $425. We hope this clears up any confusion.

She also wore her Cartier 'Love' bangle.

A very big and appreciative thanks to Pearl Kadupul on X for all of her hard work and effort in helping me identify the dress, shoes and jewelry. We worked hard into the late hours last night on these items. We may not always get it right at first, but we'll always correct and provide updates so be sure to check back.
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One final note - I am working on a Black Friday sale post with items that Meghan has worn or affordable dupes which I hope to publish over the weekend. I wanted to share a few early access sales with promo codes.

Demellier is offering 20% off sitewide with code BF20 which runs from Monday, November 20th to the 27th. You may recall Meghan carried their The Mini Venice in Forest Grain, $495 during their visit to Cardiff, UK in January 2018.

Meghan Markle meets the crowds during a visit to Cardiff Castle - January 18, 2018.
Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Dean Davidson is currently having their Early Access sale with code EARLY30 for 30% off site-wide. Meghan wore their Signature Midi Knockout studs in gold/rainbow moonstone, $195 ($136 with 30% off).

Everlane is currently running their sale of up to 50% off. Below is a list of item Meghan has worn that are still available.

Meghan's The Silky Cotton Relaxed Shirt, $88 is now $62, with the sale. She wore the shirt for a polo match in 2022.

She also wore their ReCashmere Scarf, $140 NOW $84, back in January of 2018 in Cardiff.

Her Day Market tote that she carried in September 2017 has been updated to The New Day Market Tote,$275 - NOW $138. The tote has been updated to the chocolate colorway.

Be sure to check back for the complete sale post coming in the next day or two.

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This evening the Duchess of Sussex attended the Variety Power of Women event, presented by Lifetime Television. The event celebrated influential women in the entertainment industry and their philanthropic endeavors. Embed from Getty Images Meghan graced the occasion in a stunning ensemble that seamlessly blended sophistication with a touch of modern flair. The Duchess opted November 6, 2025 Meghan Radiates Elegance at 2023 Variety Power of Women - What Meghan Wore

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This evening the Duchess of Sussex attended the Variety Power of Women event, presented by Lifetime Television. The event celebrated influential women in the entertainment industry and their philanthropic endeavors. Embed from Getty Images Meghan graced the occasion in a stunning ensemble that seamlessly blended sophistication with a touch of modern flair.

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The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.

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Is activism ever 'toe-curlingly cringey'?

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Meghan Markle’s Archetypes podcast is toe-curlingly cringey – but insightful, too

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The jaunty pep-talk style may irritate Brits, but it will surely appeal to the duchess’s liberal American fans.

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Harry and Meghan 'deserve' to be stripped of their Royal titles?

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Harry and Meghan deserve the same fate as Andrew Windsor

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Andrew Windsor’s punishment was just and proportionate. The Sussexes’ case is more complex﻿. But King Charles must still act

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‘Of course it has to do with racism,’

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Priyanka Chopra Calls The Media’s Meghan Markle Coverage Racist

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Priyanka Chopra has called out the media for it’s racist coverage of Meghan Markle

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US fashion media often position Meghan as a style icon embodying minimalism and empowerment.

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A girl after our own hearts, it's no secret that Meghan Markle is a fully-fledged beauty junkie. Her now-defunct website, The Tig (which she shut down shortly before her marriage), would often offer up insider beauty tips and tricks she'd learnt during her Hollywood career, alongside product recommendations she swore by.

Get her chatting, and she'll happily share the lot. She's previously cited some of the beauty must-haves she swears by to help her achieve the look such as Nars Blush in Orgasm (which she describes as the "perfect rosy flush tone that brightens the face"), RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara, Fresh Sugar Advanced Lip Therapy, Revitalash lash booster and YSL's Touche Eclat (which she revealed: "if you've worked a 17 hour day and have nothing else on, you will still look relatively alive. Relatively". Takes note

As for her trademark glossy hair, her secret is Wella hair oil. "It smells like vacation and makes your hair slippery and touchable. I love this stuff," she said. "It also doubles as a pretty amazing body oil post bath."

Having previously described herself as a "hippie chick", she's known to favour natural and organic brands and likes to take a holistic approach, incorporating wellness into her routine by way of acupuncture and ayurvedic rituals.

So it's safe to say that Meg knows what she's doing when it comes to serving up beauty looks and nailing down a wellness routine. But, unsurprisingly her signature hair and makeup looks have adapted over time as she's grown and taken on new roles.

Pre royal-life, the actress was a regular on the red carpet circuit and her glam hair and makeup reflected that, with rock-chick smokey eyes, sexily mussed-up side-flicked hair and experimental lip colours like ultra-fleshy nudes, and vampy merlot reds.

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We take a look at Meghan Markle's fiercest beauty moments and how her style has evolved

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We take a look at Meghan's favourite products, trademark hair and makeup looks and beauty evolution from red carpet, to royal and back again.

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Meghan Markle Is Evidence That A White Dress Is A Must Have This Spring

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If you’re thinking of purchasing one, this is your sign to do so

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The Duchess of Sussex has said she found life within the British Royal Family so difficult that at times she "didn't want to be alive any more".

In a deeply personal TV interview, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey that she did not get help when she asked for it.

She said a low point was when Harry was asked by an unnamed family member "how dark" their son Archie's skin might be.

The highly-anticipated interview with Oprah, which the couple were not paid for, aired overnight in the US.

During the two-hour CBS special, to be screened in the UK on ITV at 21:00 GMT on Monday night and on ITV Hub, Courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS, the couple covered a range of topics, including racism, mental health, their relationship with the media and Royal Family dynamics.

In other key revelations:

The couple announced their second child, which is due in the summer, is a girl

They exchanged vows in a ceremony led by the Archbishop of Canterbury in their "backyard" three days before they were legally married at their public wedding in May 2018

Harry said his brother and father were "trapped within the system" of the Royal Family

He said his family cut him off financially at the beginning of last year and his father stopped taking his calls

But Harry said he loved his brother "to bits" and wanted to heal his relationship with both him and his father

Meghan said she phoned the Queen after Prince Philip went into hospital last month

The couple moved to California after formally stepping down from royal duties in March 2020, and it was announced last month that they would not be returning as working members of the Royal Family.

Meghan said that she started to feel lonely when limits were placed on what she could do, revealing that at one point she did not leave the house for months.

At one point she thought she "could not feel lonelier", she told Oprah.

Asked by Oprah if she was thinking of self-harm and having suicidal thoughts at some stage, the 39-year-old replied: "Yes. This was very, very clear. Very clear and very scary. I didn't know who to turn to in that."

Meghan said that she felt "haunted" by a photograph from an official event she attended with Harry at the Royal Albert Hall while she was pregnant.

"Right before we had to leave for that (event), I had just had that conversation with Harry that morning," Meghan said.

Winfrey asked: "That you don't want to be alive any more?"

"Yeah," Meghan confirmed.

She said that she attended the event with Harry that night because she felt she could not be "left alone" and recalled Harry gripping her hand tightly while in attendance at the Royal Albert Hall.

Oprah also asked the duchess why she thought the Royal Family did not make her son Archie a prince - which Meghan said she wanted so that he would get police protection.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children do not automatically become princes or princesses because of a rule that has been in place since 1917 - unless the Queen steps in.

"In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time so we have in tandem the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born," Meghan said.

She said the remarks about skin colour were made to Harry and he relayed them to her.

Asked by Oprah whether there were concerns that her child would be "too brown" and that would be a problem, Meghan said: "If that is the assumption you are making, that is a pretty safe one."

When pressed, she refused to reveal who the individual was, saying: "I think that would be very damaging to them."

Harry also refused to give further details, saying: "That conversation, I am never going to share."

"At the time it was awkward, I was a bit shocked," he added.

The 36-year-old prince said that none of his relatives spoke out in support of Meghan following the racism he said his wife faced from the media.

"No-one from my family ever said anything over those three years. That hurts," Harry said.

Meghan and Harry have upended the narrative created by Britain's bestselling newspapers.

They have revealed the terrible strains inside the palace. They have drawn a picture of unfeeling individuals lost in an uncaring institution. They have spoken of racism within the Royal Family. This was a devastating interview.

But Harry describing his brother and father as "trapped", and Meghan revealing that she repeatedly sought help within the palace only to be rebuffed, is a body blow to the institution.

It's not at all clear if and how the palace will respond. Many of the revelations are so personal that getting any reaction seems unlikely. The Queen has made clear repeatedly the affection in which the couple are still held.

As for the newspapers that the couple so despise - will they change their tune? It is not in their nature.

There were pages of bile in some Sunday newspapers prior to the interview. Meghan and Harry have given up on getting a fair hearing from many of the most popular publications. It seems highly unlikely that they will see anything published that will make them change their minds.

During the interview, the Royal Family were also accused of failing to protect the duke and duchess, with Meghan saying the situation "started to really worsen" after the couple married in May 2018.

"I came to understand that not only was I not being protected but that they were willing to lie to protect other members of the family.

"But they weren't willing to tell the truth to protect me and my husband."

She was referencing rumours that she had made the Duchess of Cambridge cry during a disagreement about flower girl dresses - a story that prompted a flurry of tabloid stories.

Meghan said the opposite happened. She added that Catherine later apologised, bringing flowers and a note to make amends.

Joining his wife and Oprah for the second half of the interview, Harry talked about his relationship with the rest of his family.

He said his relationship with his grandmother, the Queen, was "really good" and that the two of them speak often.

However, his relationship with his father, the Prince of Wales, has suffered.

Harry said that he feels "really let down" by his father. He added that he will always love him, but "there's a lot of hurt that's happened".

He described his father and his brother as "trapped within the system" of the Royal Family.

"They don't get to leave," he added.

Of Prince William, he said they were on "different paths".

The interview aired while Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, was recovering in hospital after a heart procedure - although it was recorded before Prince Philip was admitted.

When he went into hospital, Meghan said she phoned the Queen "just to check in".

She said the monarch had "always been wonderful to me" and recalled her sharing her blanket while travelling together between visits.

Harry also revealed that his family had cut him off financially at the beginning of last year, after the couple announced their intention to step back as senior royals.

He said deals with Netflix and Spotify were "never part of the plan" but they needed them to pay for security staff.

In new footage not included in the original interview, Prince Harry was asked if the couple left the UK because of racism, and replied: "It was a large part of it."

He recalled a conversation he had with someone with media connections who advised him not to take on the British tabloid press.

He said he was told he had to understand that the UK was "very bigoted". But Harry recalled that he immediately responded: "The UK is not bigoted, the UK press is bigoted, specifically the tabloids."

The prince told Oprah: "But unfortunately if the source of info is inherently corrupt or racist or biased then that filters out to the rest of society."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Meghan's allegations about racism and lack of mental health support should be taken "very seriously".

Asked whether Boris Johnson agreed with this, the prime minister's official spokesman said it was "a matter for the palace" and Mr Johnson had not seen the interview.

Timeline

Summer 2016: Harry and Meghan meet on a blind date organised by a mutual friend in London

May 2018: The couple marry at Windsor Castle

April 2019: They move to Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle

6 May 2019: Their son Archie is born

31 March 2020: They officially step down as senior royals after moving to Canada. They move to California later that year.

14 February 2021: The couple announce they are expecting their second child

19 February 2021: Buckingham Palace confirms they will not return as working members of the Royal Family and they are stripped of their patronages

Information and support: If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed, these organisations offer advice and support. For mental health issues, there are these organisations.

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Meghan and Harry interview: I didn't want to be alive any more, duchess says

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The Duchess of Sussex has said she found life within the British Royal Family so difficult that at times she "didn't want to be alive any more". In a deeply personal TV interview, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey that she did not get help when she asked for it.

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Meghan and Harry’s Oprah interview: the key quotes

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What the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey about race, royal titles and considering suicide

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The Story Behind Meghan Markle’s Givenchy Wedding Dress – And Her 16-Foot Veil

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The gown designed by Givenchy’s then creative director Clare Waight Keller was an unexpected choice.

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Meghan Markle reportedly returning to acting after 8-year hiatus

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Duchess of Sussex last acted in ‘Suits’ in November 2017

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"How can anybody have any kind of positive feelings towards that creature."

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A Buzzfeed article uses 20 UK newspaper headlines that compare Meghan Markle to Kate Middleton, all of which show that Markle has been sh...

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Answer (1 of 10): Here is a look at 20 stories from these outlets that appear to show a double standard between press coverage of Meghan and Kate. BuzzFeed News has reached out to all of the outlets featured below for comment. Daily Mail / 2018, Daily Mail / 2019 Kate: “Bumping along nicely! Th…

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All the times Meghan has ‘broken’ protocol as she becomes first Royal to vote

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MEGHAN Markle took on the role of a lifetime when she became the Duchess of Sussex. In May 2018, the former Suits actress married Prince Harry and found herself plunged into the confusing world of …

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Meghan's openness in the Oprah interview demonstrates Turner's notion that modern celebrity thrives on personal revelation (2013).

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“If you love me, you don’t have to hate her. And if you love her, you don’t need to hate me.”

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Why Does It Have to Be Meghan Markle vs. Kate Middleton?

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The divide has never been about the women, but the forces of racism and sexism working against them.

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“Megxit” Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

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The media-favored term for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down as senior royals has an ugly origin story.

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Meghan Markle Rapid Fire Questions | Suits Season 5 | Dave

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Meghan Markle & Patrick J. Adams on Suits, On-Screen Chemistry, and Secret Talents | SEASON 2

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Academic Research into Meghan Markle within Britain's Systemic Racism

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Academic Research into Meghan Markle within Britain's Systemic Racism

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Ducey and Feagin (2021) apply the concepts of systemic racism and the white racial frame to analyse Meghan's experience in the British royal family, challenging romanticised views of racial progress in the UK. They highlight how systemic racism continues to shape social and cultural spaces.

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