One of Meghan Markle’s best friends has insisted that the Duchess’ new Netflix series was ‘so natural’ – and says she’s always been the ‘hostess with the most’.
The former royal, 43, released With Love, Meghan on March 4, which saw her invite all of her closest celebrity friends to a glamourous farmhouse in Montecito, close to where she lives with Prince Harry and children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, to help her bake an array of colourful dishes.
The Office star Mindy Kaling, chef Roy Choi and Alice Waters all starred on the show, cooking with Meghan while overlooking the scenic mountains in Los Angeles.
The Duchess showed her guests how to be the perfect hostess over eight episodes, via arranging flowers, baking dog biscuits for their pets or ensuring that they have a bag of their favourite pretzels to snack on.
One of her closest confidants, Abigail Spencer, also appeared on the show alongside Kelly McKee Zajfen as the trio made salt-baked fish and poured themselves mimosas.
Meghan and Abigail first met in 2007 at an audition but they became closer once they became co-stars on legal drama Suits.
The Duchess played Rachel Zane – a paralegal who later became an attorney – in the series and Abigail was cast as lawyer Dana Scott.
The 43-year-old told Hello that the pair have a ‘private a friendship’ but she was happy that Meghan could show off her ‘natural’ self doing what she loves – hosting her friends and family at her rented £5million reality TV mansion.
Abigail (pictured left with Kelly and Meghan) told Hello that the pair have a ‘private a friendship’ but she was happy that Meghan could show off her ‘natural’ self doing what she loves
Meghan and Abigail first met in 2007 at an audition but they became closer once they became co-stars on legal drama Suits
‘Meghan is the hostess with the most. Literally for years she has been like this,’ she said.
‘But I really was there just to support her and surround her. This is her heart, that show is her heart, it was so natural and [I was] really just there to have fun and to delight in her and to be a safe space.
‘We have a very private friendship, so choosing to let people in on part of that is… it’s very private but I’m glad that we got to share a little bit of it.’
Meghan and Abigail – who was one of the few that was sent jam by the Duchess last year – share the exact same birthday, date, month and year, calling themselves ‘birthday soul sisters’.
The Duchess of Sussex also appeared to make a subtle dig at the Royal Family at the end of her Netflix show, saying that she missed being able to show off her creativity ‘so much’.
She previously accused royal aides of preventing her from expressing her true self during her time in Britain.
The Duchess closed the last episode with a speech to guests including her husband Prince Harry, saying: ‘I just want to raise a glass to you guys. This feels like a new chapter that I’m so excited that I’m able to share and I’ve been able to learn from all of you.
‘So I just thank you for all the love and support. And here we go, there’s a business! All of that is part of that creativity that I’ve missed so much, so thank you for loving me so much and celebrating with me.’
One of her closest confidants, Abigail Spencer, also appeared on the show alongside Kelly McKee Zajfen as the trio made salt-baked fish and poured themselves mimosas
Meghan and Abigail – who was one of the few that was sent jam by the Duchess last year – share the exact same birthday, date, month and year, calling themselves ‘birthday soul sisters’
Meghan – whose mother Doria Ragland was in attendance too – is also heard saying to Harry about the party she organised for the show: ‘It’s good, right?’ He says: ‘Well done. You did a great job.’ Meghan adds: ‘Thank you.’ And Harry then says: ‘I love it.’
She used to have a blog called The Tig where she used to post about all things lifestyle and even interviewed notable public figures such as Ivanka Trump, who she described as ‘staggeringly beautiful, savvy and intelligent’ at the time.
Meghan launched the website, which she called her ‘passion project’, in 2014 when she was at the height of her fame as an actress in the US legal drama Suits.
For three successful years, she mixed artfully glamorous pictures with discussions of everything from personal resolutions to food, fashion, travel and politics.
But she pulled the plug on The Tig in 2017, just before her engagement to Prince Harry, signing off with a regretful ‘Thank you for everything’, two kisses and her signature.
With Love, Meghan ranked in the top ten trending shows on Netflix worldwide the week it was released and has since been renewed for a second series, despite negative reviews from critics.
The Guardian said a ‘deep sleep was guaranteed’ for those tuning into the show, the Telegraph called it ‘an exercise in narcissism’ and the Independent thought the series was ‘queasy and exhausting’.
Meghan also announced the news that she would be releasing another podcast based around female founders after Archetypes was axed by Spotify.
The Duchess of Sussex signed a deal with Lemonada Media in February 2024 after her Spotify contract ended in 2023 after one series of her first podcast Archetypes.
Now, her first project called ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’ with Lemonada has been confirmed and is set to feature conversations with businesswomen and friends talking about starting a company.
Meghan also announced the news that she would be releasing another podcast based around female founders after Archetypes was axed by Spotify
Lemonada described the show as inviting listeners ‘to be a fly on the wall as Meghan sits down for candid conversations with female founders and friends about the success, the struggles, and the never-before-told stories of building a business’.
A trailer will be released on March 25 with the first episode on April 8, and it comes after her new lifestyle show ‘With Love, Meghan’ premiered on Netflix on March 4.
Posting a photograph of the cover work for the new podcast on her Instagram account today, the Duchess said she was ‘so excited’ to share news of the podcast, describing the experience as ‘absolutely eye-opening, inspiring…and fun!’
Meghan said: ‘I’m so excited to share with you something else I’ve been working on: ‘Confessions Of A Female Founder,’ my new podcast with @lemonadamedia!
‘I’ve been having candid conversations with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities, and scaled small ideas into massively successful businesses.
‘They’re opening up, sharing their tips, tricks (and tumbles), and letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As Ever. It has been absolutely eye-opening, inspiring…and fun! (Because what’s the point if we can’t have some fun on this wild adventure?)’