Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, recently lifted the lid on her daily life in Montecito. She drew on her lived experiences alongside Prince Harry and their two cute kids, Archie and Lilibet. Reflecting on their journey since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, Markle described how her family life is now enriched by personal projects, including a heartfelt time capsule for her children.
Markle shared that she composes letters to Archie and Lilibet each evening, based on the model of one of her best friends. These emails will remain under seal until her children turn 16 or 18 years old. When they do finally get to crack them open, they’ll find their mother’s candid musings and observations from her developmental years. The time capsule is filled with special memories. It includes photographs, report cards, and other ephemera that represent her abiding devotion and admiration over the years for her kids.
Cherishing Family Moments
During the wide-ranging and honest conversation, Markle opened up about her love for her kids.
“I’m just so proud of them… They’re just so great.” – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Her favorite thing right now is watering a rose in the garden, holding Lilibet’s little hand. It illustrates the lengths she goes to prioritize the cultivation of her friendship with him. For Markle, these moments are about more than parenting. They represent a golden era of stability and joy in her new life, following the pressures of royal duty.
Markle referred to their present stage of development as a “honeymoon period.” She thought back to some of the hardships she and Harry endured when they first started dating.
“You have to imagine, at the beginning it’s all butterflies – but then we immediately went into the trenches together,” – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Through this period of adjustment, they’ve learned to value one another’s work. Neither found it easy to appreciate each other’s value during the chaotic, sometimes adversarial, relationship.
Navigating Public Scrutiny
Though she loved her new family life, Markle opened up about how tiring it was to always feel like she had to justify her existence to people. She articulated the struggle many face in seeking validation, stating:
“We spend so much of our lives trying to prove something, to prove that you’re enough, you have to prove that you’re pretty enough, you have to prove you’re smart enough, you have to prove that you’re a good wife or a good friend.” – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
It is a heavy, yet pressing revelation and commentary Shriver shares here about the pressures that come with public life and the stress that deeply affects personal identity. Markle emphasized a shift in her mindset, declaring:
“And I was like ‘I am just so done with the proving game and if you can’t see it, I don’t need to prove to you why that’s your loss.’” – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
This freedom from outside-imposed structures has given Markle the headspace to figure out what matters most—she and Harry’s family.
Professional Ventures
On top of all her new family responsibilities, Markle’s business ambitions are still going strong. She’s recently released her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. It explores issues that impact women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. This exciting new undertaking is a testament to Ariel’s commitment to inspiring others and living out her passion, all while being an ever-present mother.
