Meghan Markle has no problem owning the fact that she’s the Duchess of Sussex. She is still strong and resilient, thanks in part to her upbringing outside the British royal family that nurtured her. In a candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Markle spilled the beans about her new life. She recounted her experiences with the royal family and the British press as she and Prince Harry were in New York City to accept the Humanitarians of the Year award from a mental health not-for-profit organization.
The married couple visited New York in part to promote mental health advocacy. From the moment they announced their retreat from royal duties, they have been fervent advocates for this cause. Markle and Prince Harry now reside in Montecito, California. They have not relinquished their royal titles, which raises questions over what roles and identities Harry and Meghan will occupy going forward.
During the wide-ranging interview, conducted in the Manhattan apartment of a mutual friend, Markle shared her thoughts about the purpose of her title. She lit up as she looked back on her previous encounters with the royals and the media. Today, she’s prepared to put one foot in front of the other and write her own chapter.
“After years of being subsumed by other people’s narratives, the Duchess of Sussex is ready to author her own next chapter,” – Harper’s Bazaar
Though Markle and Prince Harry were duplicitous over their titles, their continued fealty demonstrates the need. Yet even as they are criticized and closely examined, they have not given up their royal position. In a conversation with Anderson Cooper earlier in 2023, Prince Harry clarified that they chose not to abandon their titles, emphasizing their commitment to their work and causes.
The couple’s choice to publicly go by their royal titles, particularly Ms. Markle’s, has elicited both praise and condemnation from the media and public. Many are curious about how they will navigate their identities as public figures who advocate for social change while being linked to royalty.
Beyond their humanitarian focus, Markle’s interview provides a window into her personal journey since stepping back from royal duties. She was frank about the roadblocks she encountered. Specifically, she pointed to the unforgiving treatment that she faced from the royal institution and the British tabloid press.
So Markle and Prince Harry are just following the well-established trend of creating their own space. Both remain determined to pursue their passions while honouring their royal lineage. Their trip demonstrates the inspiring combination of old and new innovation. Like our past Explorers, they are changing the game on what it means to be public figures in an ever-evolving society.