Latest news with #FindingFreedom
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Issues Strong Advice To Women About Choosing Baby Names
On the season finale of her podcast, Meghan Markle discussed baby naming, entrepreneurship, and motherhood with Spanx founder Sara Blakely. The Duchess of Sussex shared strong advice, emphasizing the importance of keeping baby names private, while citing her own experience naming Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Meghan Markle also recalled the physical toll of pregnancy during royal duties, including wearing stilettos despite gaining 65 pounds. Meghan had a heartfelt discussion with Spanx founder Blakely on the final episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, about navigating the roles of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Reflecting on the early stages of launching a venture, Meghan compared it to conducting a "SurveyMonkey," with everyone chiming in on decisions like the company's name. She then drew a parallel to choosing baby names, offering firm advice to expectant parents. Meghan said, "It's no different, and I will say this to every woman in the world or every person in the world who's going to have a child, if you have an idea about what you are going to name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart, until that baby is born and it's named." "Don't ask anyone's opinion," the Duchess of Sussex added. Meghan, who shares two children with Prince Harry, six-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet, emphasized that naming a baby is a deeply personal matter. In "Finding Freedom," the biography of Meghan and Prince Harry by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the authors revealed that when it came to choosing a name for their firstborn, the royal couple was drawn to "something traditional, a name that was powerful even without a title in front of it." "Archie, meaning strength and bravery, fit the bill," they explained. A friend of the couple revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly "thought about Archibald for all of one second. He was always going to be little Archie." Breaking from royal tradition, Archie has just one middle name: Harrison, a subtle nod to his father, meaning "son of Harry" or "son of Henry." Their daughter, Lilibet, also has a name with deep family significance. Her middle name, Diana, honors Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. Reports have suggested that Queen Elizabeth II was deeply unsettled by Harry and Meghan's decision to name their daughter Lilibet, a name with deeply personal roots. The moniker originated in the Queen's childhood and was affectionately coined when young Elizabeth struggled to pronounce her own name. It was allegedly used only by her closest family members: her parents, her sister Princess Margaret, and later, Prince Philip. While the Sussexes claimed they wouldn't have used the name without the Queen's blessing, conflicting accounts emerged. The BBC cited palace insiders who said the monarch was not formally consulted. Other sources noted that while Harry and Meghan did inform her, the late Queen felt obligated to go along with it. According to one royal aide, the Queen was "as angry as I'd ever seen her" after the couple publicly implied she had fully endorsed the tribute. During the conversation, Meghan also opened up about the physical demands she faced during her pregnancies, especially while fulfilling her royal responsibilities. While recalling her time being heavily pregnant with her children, Archie and Lilibet, the Duchess noted that she gained around 65 pounds with each pregnancy, yet still adhered to the demanding dress codes of royal life, including wearing high heels. She laughed as she recalled a moment from 2019 when a friend recently reminded her of a photo showing her heavily pregnant. "A friend just said to me the other day, they were like, 'I just saw this picture I'd forgotten about when you were so pregnant with Archie," she recalled. Despite the physical strain, Meghan continued to show up for public appearances in her signature pointed heels. "I always wear my five-inch, pointy-toed stilettos," she admitted, noting that her friend was surprised by the image of her pregnant in heels. "'You have the most enormous bump and your tiny little ankles are bracing themselves in these high heels,' but all my weight was in the front." Meghan continued, "So you're just going, 'how on Earth am I not just tipping,' you know, face-planting? I was clinging very closely to my husband, like, 'Please don't let me fall.'" The Tuesday episode marked the conclusion of the debut season of Meghan's podcast, "Confessions of a Female Founder," which launched on April 8 following its official announcement in March. Over the course of the season, Meghan sat down with a series of inspiring women entrepreneurs, many of whom she shares personal ties with. Guests included Bumble's Whitney Wolfe Herd, Girls Who Code and Moms First founder Reshma Saujani, Kadi Lee of Highbrow Hippie, Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics, Hannah Mendoza of Clevr Blends, Heather Hasson of FIGS, and Kitsch's Cassandra Morales Thurswell.
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Meghan Markle's wedding speech left guests shocked with this one remark
It has been seven years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married. Today marks seven years since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tied the knot at St George's Chapel. The couple's big day was a beautiful occasion and the world watched on as they became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. After the stunning ceremony the newlyweds and hundreds of their guests headed to their reception followed by an evening party which was hosted by Harry's now estranged father, King Charles, at Frogmore House. Insiders say it really was quite the celebration with guests tucking into 'dirty burgers' and candyfloss and drinking themed cocktails. One cocktail was even named 'When Harry Met Meghan' - a nod to the iconic romcom movie When Harry Met Sally, writes The Mirror. Meghan also made a speech at her big day, which apparently left many guests speechless. In her moving speech, she said she had "found her prince", praised the late Queen and thanked Charles for stepping in at the last minute to walk her down the aisle. However, royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim in their book that Meghan hinted at how she had not been able to use her voice during her time as part of the Royal Family in the speech. In the book Finding Freedom, they write: "A first for a royal bride, the move reinforced the idea that this American was no typical duchess. "'You could literally hear a pin drop', said a close confidant, who described the speech as a momentous occasion even for the Americans. 'For her to have been quiet for as long as she had, and then have this really safe space where she could give these heartfelt remarks, it was a really special moment', the source said. "'She spent so many years, whether on campus, on TV, or advocating for women to be empowered, speaking out. And she's respected that. She does have a lot of respect for the family and the institution that she has joined. But it's just a different way of living. We'd missed hearing her speak'. And apparently Meghan felt the same way, because she laughed, 'I know it's been a while'." Years later, during her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke directly on the issue of not having a voice, saying she had been silenced and comparing herself to The Little Mermaid. She said she was shocked by the parallels between herself and the cartoon princess who also 'lost her voice' after marrying royalty. She recalled a day when she sat down at the couple's former home, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, to watch the movie on TV. "Now, who as an adult really watches The Little Mermaid?" she joked to Oprah. "But it came on and I was like, well, I'm just here all the time, so I may as well watch this. "And I went 'Oh my God, she falls in love with a prince and because of that she has to lose her voice'. "But by the end, she gets her voice back," she added. In her and Harry's explosive Netflix series released in 2022, Meghan revealed what exactly she said in her wedding day speech. In the last episode of the six-part series, Meghan reads the speech from her phone while sat beside Harry and says her first line "got a big laugh" from guests. She then read out: "Onto the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight. First of all, it's been a while. Continuing to recall her speech, Meghan goes on: "But mostly I wanted to share a story. A story about the man that I love and the way that we met. 'Let's call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA. Some people called her 'an actress'. And there was a guy from London. Some people called him 'a prince'. All of those people didn't fully get it. Because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together. "They meet on July 3rd, 2016 in London and they giggle endlessly. "They have their second date and he brings her cupcakes because it's 4 July.''A bittersweet celebration', he says. Ironic really. Her country's independence from his country. Yet in this moment they know they don't want to be independent from each other. "And after a month of long-distance courtship, they settle into the quiet of Botswana. And amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, whatever world we're in. They would love and garden and travel and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have. "And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. 'Nothing can break us,' they'd say. 'For this love, she was a fighter.' "I appreciate, respect and honour you, my treasure, for the family we will create. And our love story that will last forever. "So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins. And the everlasting knowing that, above all, love wins.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan's cutting remark about royal life at wedding left royals 'speechless'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry both gave speeches at the private celebrations on their wedding day in 2018, and the new Duchess of Sussex made a comment on her royal life so far It has been seven years since Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of St George's Chapel to marry Prince Harry in an unforgettable wedding. The day has been a beautiful celebration of the couple's love, and people around the world came together to toast the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Once the televised church service was over, the newlyweds and their guests headed to a lunchtime reception followed by an evening party hosted by harry's now estranged father King Charles at Frogmore House. Insiders say it was quite the party, with guests tucking into 'dirty burgers' and candyfloss and drinking themed cocktails including one named 'When Harry Met Meghan' - a play on the hit romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally. When it came to the speeches, Meghan proved she was the modern bride by joining her new husband to say a few words - and it appears to left many speechless. In her moving speech, she said she had "found her prince", praised the late Queen and thanked Charles for stepping in at the last minute to walk her down the aisle. But royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim that Meghan hinted at how she had not been able to use her voice during her time as part of the Royal Family in the speech. In the book Finding Freedom, they write: "A first for a royal bride, the move reinforced the idea that this American was no typical duchess. "'You could literally hear a pin drop', said a close confidant, who described the speech as a momentous occasion even for the Americans. 'For her to have been quiet for as long as she had, and then have this really safe space where she could give these heartfelt remarks, it was a really special moment', the source said. "'She spent so many years, whether on campus, on TV, or advocating for women to be empowered, speaking out. And she's respected that. She does have a lot of respect for the family and the institution that she has joined. But it's just a different way of living. We'd missed hearing her speak'. And apparently Meghan felt the same way, because she laughed, 'I know it's been a while'." Years later, Meghan spoke directly on the issue of not having a voice during her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying she had been silenced and comparing herself to The Little Mermaid. She said she was shocked by the parallels between herself and the cartoon princess who also 'lost her voice' after marrying royalty. She recalled a day when she sat down at the couple's former home, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, to watch the movie on TV. "Now, who as an adult really watches The Little Mermaid?" she joked to Oprah. "But it came on and I was like, well, I'm just here all the time, so I may as well watch this. "And I went 'Oh my God, she falls in love with a prince and because of that she has to lose her voice'. "But by the end, she gets her voice back," she added. In her and Harry's explosive Netflix series released in 2022, Meghan revealed what exactly she said in her wedding day speech. In the last episode of the six-part series, Meghan reads the speech from her phone while sat beside Harry and says her first line "got a big laugh" from guests. She then read out: "Onto the crux of why I wanted to speak tonight. First of all, it's been a while. Continuing to recall her speech, Meghan goes on: "But mostly I wanted to share a story. A story about the man that I love and the way that we met. 'Let's call this a modern fairytale. Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA. Some people called her 'an actress'. And there was a guy from London. Some people called him 'a prince'. All of those people didn't fully get it. Because this is the love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together. "They meet on July 3rd, 2016 in London and they giggle endlessly. "They have their second date and he brings her cupcakes because it's 4 July.''A bittersweet celebration', he says. Ironic really. Her country's independence from his country. Yet in this moment they know they don't want to be independent from each other. "And after a month of long-distance courtship, they settle into the quiet of Botswana. And amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, whatever world we're in. They would love and garden and travel and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have. "And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. 'Nothing can break us,' they'd say. 'For this love, she was a fighter.' "I appreciate, respect and honour you, my treasure, for the family we will create. And our love story that will last forever. "So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins. And the everlasting knowing that, above all, love wins.'
Edinburgh Live
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Prince Harry brutal comment about Meghan Markle's family that 'increased rift'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Meghan Markle has long been estranged from her father, and the 80-year-old has yet to meet his grandchildren, Archie, six, and three year old Lilibet, or his son-in-law in person. Prince Harry, too, is well-known for his severed ties with the Royal Family. He faced allegations of increasing the divide between Meghan and her relatives following an interview he gave in 2017. During a conversation with Radio 4 before their 2018 wedding, Harry was questioned about any family traditions he had to explain to Meghan. "Plenty," he responded, "We've got one of the biggest families that I know of and every family is complex as well. She's done an absolutely amazing job." He went on to say: "She's getting in there and it's the family, I suppose, she's never had." Harry's comments did not go down well with Meghan's family. In their book 'Finding Freedom', authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand said: "Harry's comment only heightened the already tenuous family dynamic and foreshadowed what was to come." As reported by the Mirror, reacting to Harry's words, Meghan's half-sister Samantha posted on X (formerly Twitter): "Actually she has a large family who were always there with her and for her. Our household was very normal and when dad and Doria divorced, we all made it so it was like she had two houses. No one was estranged, she was just too busy." Samantha later confirmed in the 2019 Channel 5 documentary Meghan And The Markles: A Family At War that Harry's comment had hurt the family. She said: "The first thing I thought was: 'I don't think Harry has been given the full story'. Something was not right. Though we weren't the classic family together on schedule for every holiday, we were family. "Then we questioned why... why would she be embarrassed about her family? Why would you need to set the stage differently? It was starting to feel like she wasn't reaching out to the family." It comes after it was revealed that Thomas is now living in a £500-a-month high-rise flat on the densely populated island of Cebu in the Philippines. The former Hollywood lighting director now resides more than 7,000 miles away from his daughter. He is being cared for by Meghan's older half-brother, Thomas Jr, 58, as he adjusts to life in his new tropical home. But he is said to be 'struggling' to cope in Cebu's punishing climate, where temperatures this week reached 33C with humidity levels approaching 90 per cent. "There are only two types of weather in Cebu: hot and humid, and hot and humid and raining. It's brutal even for men half his age, but it's still sad to see him looking as though he's struggling," a source told The Mirror. Thomas Markle has been seen using a walking stick to get around the challenging terrain near his residence, and was captured in a photo sitting by himself in scorching temperatures outside a supermarket the day following Archie's sixth birthday. (Image: Steve Parsons -) His son, Thomas Jr, has revealed plans for a tell-all book about their family, including recollections of Meghan's early years. He said: "When my book is finished, ooh it'll be swooped up real quick cos it's getting there. I'm working on it. It's coming out." He anticipates the book will be a hit and hopes it might lead to a documentary. He added: "It's gonna be good. I really want to maybe spin off the book, then when the book gets read, the documentary will follow. I'm not a greedy person, it's not about the money, it's about the principle." He acknowledged the financial benefits of publishing a book but insisted it's not his primary motivation. Speaking about his relocation to the Philippines with his father, Thomas Jr added in an online video: "Everybody wants the book. I now have dedicated time. It's not easy moving."
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry's cutting remark about Meghan's family that 'intensified rift'
The Duchess of Sussex's half-sister, Samantha Markle, confirmed that a comment made by Prince Harry ahead of his 2018 royal wedding had hurt the Markle family, saying 'something was not right' Meghan Markle has been estranged from her father for many years now; the 80-year-old has never met his grandchildren, Archie, six, and three-year-old Lilibet, nor his son-in-law, in person. Prince Harry is famously no longer in contact with his family, either. And he was previously accused of widening the rift between Meghan and her loved ones when he sat down for an interview in 2017. While speaking to Radio 4 ahead of the couple's 2018 wedding, Harry was asked if there were family traditions he needed to explain to his future wife. "Plenty," he said, "We've got one of the biggest families that I know of and every family is complex as well. She's done an absolutely amazing job." He added: "She's getting in there and it's the family, I suppose, she's never had." His remarks did not sit well with Meghan's family. Writing in their book, Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, noted: "Harry's comment only heightened the already tenuous family dynamic and foreshadowed what was to come." In response to Harry's remarks, Meghan's half-sister Samantha took to X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Actually she has a large family who were always there with her and for her. Our household was very normal and when dad and Doria divorced, we all made it so it was like she had two houses. No one was estranged, she was just too busy." Samantha later confirmed in the 2019 Channel 5 documentary Meghan And The Markles: A Family At War that Harry's comment had hurt the family. She said: "The first thing I thought was, 'I don't think Harry has been given the full story'. Something was not right. Though we weren't the classic family together on schedule for every holiday, we were family. "Then we questioned why… why would she be embarrassed about her family? Why would you need to set the stage differently? It was starting to feel like she wasn't reaching out to the family." It comes after it was revealed that Thomas is now living in a £500-a-month high-rise flat on the densely populated island of Cebu in the Philippines. The 80-year-old former Hollywood lighting director now resides more than 7,000 miles away from his daughter. He is being cared for by Meghan's older half-brother, Thomas Jr, 58, as he adjusts to life in his new tropical home. But he is said to be 'struggling' to cope in Cebu's punishing climate, where temperatures this week reached 33C with humidity levels approaching 90 per cent. "There are only two types of weather in Cebu: hot and humid, and hot and humid and raining. It's brutal even for men half his age, but it's still sad to see him looking as though he's struggling," a source told The Mirror. Thomas has been spotted using a walking stick to navigate the area's uneven roads and paths, and he was photographed on the day after Archie's sixth birthday sitting alone in blistering heat, outside a supermarket near his new home. Thomas Jr, meanwhile, revealed to the Mirror that he is working on a book of his own, which will include his memories of Meghan's childhood. He said: "When my book is finished, ooh it'll be swooped up real quick cos it's getting there. I'm working on it. It's coming out. "It's gonna be good. I really want to maybe spin off the book, then when the book gets read, the documentary will follow. I'm not a greedy person, it's not about the money, it's about the principle. "Of course it would be nice to have a nice little cushion from selling a book, sure." Referring to his new life to the Philippines with his father, Thomas added in an online video: "Everybody wants the book. I now have dedicated time. It's not easy moving."
