In a world where every move of hers is dissected, Meghan Markle is reclaiming her narrative, starting from her happy place: the kitchen. In her place stands the sun-drenched Montecito kitchen, where the Duchess of Sussex is seen making her grandmother’s infamous banana pudding recipe, reinventing it in her style by crushing and adding Nilla Wafers into it. Amid those fresh berries, zesty lemon, and soft crust, Meghan is setting herself apart from the royal stature, building something of her own. Embracing the role of a modern homemaker, businesswoman, and content creator. In her new release on Netflix, “With Love,” she curated a glimpse into her world of food.
High tea parties, truffle popcorn, and gift-wrapped pretzels. Last week’s episode was a little treat for her viewers; she invited them inside her actual home kitchen, which gave the viewers a more grounded view. With occasional pop-ins by Prince Harry and her mother, Doria Ragland, Meghan moves with the practiced ease of someone who has been cooking long before cameras started rolling.
This episode and visit coincided with her new brand, As Ever, a royal lifestyle brand that features hand-crafted jams, pastries, and honey. All items sold within an hour was a testament to both her influence and the enchanting allure of her domestic vision. Meghan made no mistakes when it came to the aesthetics of the brand— clean, minimal, and comforting. But where there are appreciators, there are critics too.
Some people are skeptical of her Netflix kitchen set, the affordability of her cookware, and even her motivations.
Outrageous reactions to her being ‘out of the kitchen’ started to flood social media. Meghan, now 43, is no stranger to scrutiny, but she’s also no longer interested in playing defense. Asked during an interview, she said, Don’t they know my life hasn’t always been like this?”That is a fair point. From the girl who grew up in LA to a college student living on grilled-cheese sandwiches to working as an actress in ‘Suits,’ Meghan’s life before the royals entered was full of struggle, compromise, and hustle.
Meghan, raised by a mother who cooked for long hours and a grandmother who cooked on cast-iron pans with love, has had a long-built and deeply personal connection to food. As she said, cooking for her is both therapeutic and an outlet for her creative side, a way to reconnect and unwind. Now, with her new podcast and aesthetic brand, As Ever, she is all set to merge her passion with purpose. From sharing pasta tips on screen for her viewers to inviting Prince Harry for little moments, she is inviting the audience into a version of herself that is more ‘her’ and ‘polished.’Since there is no pleasing everyone, especially those who are still hung up on royal expectations. Meghan is trying to build something of her own that she can call hers. Meghan is working, thriving, and building something meaningful, just the way she likes it to be.
