Meghan Markle’s ‘brutal’ admission about her younger years before meeting Prince Harry

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has revealed that she faced significant struggles in the years leading up to her meeting and marrying Prince Harry. In her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan candidly shared that her 20s were “brutal,” and her teenage years were even more challenging.

It was not until her 33rd birthday that Meghan found true happiness, as she learned the importance of being “kind” to herself. This personal growth and self-acceptance paved the way for her to meet Prince Harry in July 2016, when she was 35 and he was 32 years old.

Despite the fairytale ending of marrying into the British royal family, Meghan’s journey to finding her “happily ever after” with Prince Harry was marked by years of personal struggles and self-discovery. Her openness about these challenges provides insight into her resilience and the transformative power of self-compassion.

In a formal discourse, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, revealed her struggles with conformity and self-acceptance during her formative years. She candidly admitted to facing challenges in fitting in during her high school days, often opting to engage in extracurricular activities to avoid the solitude of the cafeteria.

As she transitioned into her early twenties, Meghan confessed to grappling with self-judgment regarding her physical appearance, personal style, and the desire to emulate societal norms of coolness, trendiness, and intellect. It was not until the age of 24 that a pivotal moment occurred when a casting director advised her to embrace a more natural appearance and authenticity, a mantra she would subsequently adopt: “be more Meghan.”

Interestingly, years before her own royal nuptials, Meghan had blogged about her future in-laws on her now-defunct website, The Tig. In one particular post, she focused on the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, reflecting on the pomp and circumstance surrounding their ceremony. She humorously contrasted her childhood aspirations, stating, “Little girls dream of being princesses. I, for one, was all about She-Ra, Princess of Power,” referring to the 1980s animated series that followed the adventures of Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam (He-Man).

Meghan’s remarks deviate from the conventional fairy tale narrative often associated with princesses. She astutely observed that grown women appear to harbor a lingering fascination with childhood fantasies, as evidenced by the pomp and circumstance surrounding royal weddings and the incessant discourse revolving around figures like Princess Kate.

Prior to her union with Prince Harry, Meghan maintained a blog for an extended period, where she shared recipes, travel recommendations, and personal anecdotes. However, she discontinued the site in 2017, mere months before the public announcement of her engagement to Harry.

Currently, Meghan is poised to unveil her latest endeavor, colloquially referred to as “The Tig 2.0.” This new luxury brand, christened American Riviera Orchard, has reportedly been in development for over a year and will feature elements that resonate deeply with her personal interests.

American Riviera Orchard is a lifestyle and culinary brand that will coincide with the launch of a new cooking show on the Netflix platform.