This is certainly not the way that Meghan Markle wanted to dominate the headlines, and she certainly did not intend to embarrass herself or paint a negative picture of herself. Appearance matters, not all the time, but it certainly mattered here.
Meghan Markle prides herself on being an example — to her children, Archie and Lilibet, first, and to many others second. She has developed a persona dedicated to a life of service alongside her husband, Prince Harry, especially after stepping down from their royal duties.
The pair has been part of many charitable moves and organizations. Markle is always present with Harry, giving to mothers in need via the Archewell Foundation and other community groups.
The actress and her husband have volunteered their time and energy in three key areas.
Tackling Misinformation: Through their Archewell Foundation, they have provided grants to organizations focused on media literacy and disinformation.
Disaster Relief: They have supported organizations like World Central Kitchen and the Halo Trust (a mine-clearing charity once supported by Princess Diana) in global relief efforts.
Empowering Women: They have partnered with The Ving Project to give grants to women who serve as inspiration to teens.
The couple has donated millions to charities, including significant contributions to Democratic-aligned causes, the Marcy Lab School, and women-focused initiatives. Prince Harry has always been active as a philanthropist. He launched Sentebale, which was unfortunately shut down, and is the power behind the Invictus Games.
They are determined to live by example, which is why it was a heartwarming scene when they brought Archie and Lilibet to volunteer at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) during Thanksgiving. At the nonprofit community kitchen, the family helped prepare and package meals for food-insecure individuals in Los Angeles.
The Massive Faux Pas: Announcing The Duchess
While they are high-profile celebrities and members of the Royal Family, they pride themselves on being humble and down-to-earth. This is why it was a bit surprising to many that Meghan Markle committed such a massive faux pas of flaunting her privilege and status during an interview.
Writer Kaitlyn Greenidge, who interviewed Meghan Markle for Harper’s Bazaar, sat down with her at a borrowed Upper East Side brownstone in New York. This detail has garnered significant attention because the household staff were not Meghan Markle’s personal employees, yet they still announced her.
The magazine shared the scene: “When I meet up with Meghan a week later on a stormy day in New York, she’s wearing black leggings and an oversized Northwestern sweatshirt (her alma mater). Her hair is pulled back, and if she has any makeup on, it’s difficult to tell; her skin is bare, and some of her freckles are visible. She looks like she could still be in college. We’re in a grand brownstone on the Upper East Side that belongs to one of Meghan’s friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house. Meghan and Harry are in New York to receive the Humanitarians of the Year Award from Project Healthy Minds, a nonprofit focused on mental health. We try to decide where we will have our talk: downstairs in the kitchen, with its oak countertops and view of the patio, or upstairs. She gestures toward the second floor of the house, which is accessed via a glass elevator in the living room.”
Optics Over Authenticity
This revelation has sparked commentary, focusing less on the interview content itself and more on the optics of the Duchess of Sussex‘s current lifestyle. The fact that the announcement of her title was deemed necessary for an interviewer when no one else was present highlighted a focus on status.
What Lesson For Archie And Lilibet?
Some have wondered what kind of over-the-top privilege lesson she is teaching Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet when they simultaneously volunteer at a soup kitchen and rely on borrowed mansions and titles for media appearances? The move appears to undo Prince Harry’s efforts to ground their charitable work in authenticity.
Some were quick to say that this is confusing for the Duke of Sussex. His wife directly contradicted the simple brand that he is trying to develop.
