The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have had a great year. It felt like 2020 was the year of transition, but 2021 was the year that they came into their own. They are the Montecito Royals, leaning into their roles as activists and humanitarians, doing deals and building their businesses, charity and brand. Sitting down for the Oprah interview must have been stressful at the time, but afterwards, it probably felt like a huge weight had been lifted. They also welcomed their second child, daughter Lilibet Diana, in June! People Magazine has a nice story about how Harry and Meghan are enjoying their life together in America:
Getting ready for a gala at the Intrepid Museum in New York City on Nov. 10, Meghan Markle turned to the same trusted glam squad from her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry: makeup artist Daniel Martin and hairstylist Serge Normant.
“It was so much fun to have all of us back together again. It was chill and relaxed, like the gang was back together,” Martin says in the winter issue of PEOPLE Royals, out Dec. 17. “Harry jokes around a lot, and Meghan is really funny. It was nice to have those belly laughs again!”
The flurry of recent appearances comes after an extended period of regrouping for the couple: their move from Harry’s England to Meghan’s California; their shift from senior working royals to financially independent Archewell cofounders; and, of course, their family expansion with Lili joining 2-year-old big brother Archie.
“They are loving life as a family of four,” adds Martin. “They’ve struck a rhythm as a foursome.”
With the kids staying back in Montecito, Calif., during the New York trip, Meghan and Harry “couldn’t wait to get home,” he adds. “It’s about finding that work-life balance now, which ties into Meghan lobbying for parental paid leave. They’re experiencing it themselves. They know it affects everyone in the family.”
The couple continues to lean on each other as they look ahead to their second year of independence. “They are inseparable,” says a source. “Nothing has changed.”
There are always royal commentators assuming how Princess Diana would think about Harry’s life and choices, but can I just say? The fact that Harry is in a loving, supportive marriage with a true partner would make Diana so proud. The way Harry stood up for Meghan and chose his wife over his family and privilege would make Diana so happy. And yes, of course Harry and Meghan are relaxed and living life on their own terms now. I’m so proud of them.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar, Backgrid and Getty.
Now, this is a story I can believe. All the KKKhate embiggening stories were making me roll my eyes. Meg’s face is a breath of fresh air. She looks so happy. I was tired of seeing Mutton’s old and ugly (the ugly spirit shows) face.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Ugly spirit or all those spirits lol
Meghan does not look 40 she is a breath of fresh air and I have enjoyed seeing her smile again this year and have some fun.. I love there work and her initiatives.
Nice to see a decent story on them and can’t wait to see what next year brings for the Sussex’s.
Let’s normalize not calling women pieces of meat shall we? Kate is many many things, but when we reduce a woman to old mutton status…it’s like how are we better than the crazies at the daily fail?
@ Watson, while I appreciate your point of view with regards to labeling women in a negative manner, I think that in regards to Kate, she has created this negative image due to her own actions and her utter relentless attacks on Meghan for years!! Kate allowed the crying story to play to her benefit for years. Kate also never made any attempts at being kind to Meghan or to take her under her wing and help her once she joined the royal family. Kate has maintained a constant unnecessary attack against Meghan as soon as she became a part of the royal family. The mere fact that she wore a cream colored dress to their wedding was an insult to their nuptials, in addition to her behaviour during the entire service. Kate has brought these callous name calling all upon herself. Had Kate been a decent person and not committed such atrocious actions against Meghan the moment she moved to Britain, she would not be labeled as such. Kate is a hateful, jealous and spiteful woman. She has no redeeming qualities. The smears that she inflicted on Meghan, in addition to all others in the royal family, were unacceptable and disgusting. They brought Meghan to the point of suicide while she was pregnant.
Kween deserves every bit of negativity from us as she has behaved in every possible disgusting manner, including her anger raging man-child husband. She deserves no empathy or compassion. She has an ugly heart and has behaved in a manner that is atrocious and unforgivable, to me at least.
THANK YOU @BothSidesNow
“…Kween deserves every bit of negativity from us as she has behaved in every possible disgusting manner, including her anger raging man-child husband. She deserves no empathy or compassion. She has an ugly heart and has behaved in a manner that is atrocious and unforgivable, to me at least.”
And so say I.
@BothSidesNow: ditto! 👏
@watson I get where you’re coming from but “mutton” is SO tame compared to what Meghan was called by the tabloids. If we called Kate “lamb” would you still object, since she is so often depicted as innocent and completely infantilized, but nevertheless a piece of meat? Or is it only when we compare her to something old that it becomes offensive?
I do understand (along with sentiments that believe making fun of William’s dome is hair shaming)…but there are far worse things one can call her (and have) aside from “mutton with buttons.”
Agree with Both Sides Now completely and utterly.
Also the word mutton was used in relation to #Liar in another puff piece about her, so yeah, fine with using mutton to refer to #Liar. When one woman knowingly does not correct a lie that goes around the world and drives another woman to the brink of suicide all bets are off.
Gotta love People’s ability to play all sides of the fence. I forget how huge of a year it’s been for H&M bc they love to disappear for weeks on end lol. It’s unusual in this age of social media to not have frequent access to your faves, but I appreciate that they’ve managed to set boundaries and live largely away from the public eye. Looking forward to seeing how all the things they’re set up to do play out next year…
It’s a super A-list strategy. Beyonce does it. Another reason the move to Montecito was great for their brand. They can actually keep us guessing.
I am happy for them. They have had such a tough go of things and have really come out on the other side shining. I can’t imagine having my family attack me, lie about me relentlessly.
I just pray for a hedge of angels to protect them and their sweet little family.
Amen to your prayer @girlninja. Seems like some people have reached the acceptance stage of the bereavement cycle.
When the life you’re living out of the RF is better than the one you imagined when in it.
This is exactly what H said on the Dax Shepherd podcast back in May. He said his wife said something like: “you dont have to be a princess, you can create a life for yourself that is better than any princess’s.”
Which, of course, is what the Sussexes hv done.
And they were just getting started this year. Imagine how the future will look when they really get all their projects going. It will be amazing to watch.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
They’ve really done so much this year. And they’re far away from their abusers. It must be such a relief.
It truly is. I can’t imagine the hell that they have been put through and are still having to deal with.
I am so happy for them to finally be free from those who harmed them at every turn.
I dont think Ive ever heard it articulated but I believe M is triggered by the thought of visiting britain and so, the Sussexes will not put foot back there as a family.
Dont be surprised if only H goes for betty’s funeral and if they both DONT go for charles’ coronation (if the brits are going to be so tone deaf as to hv their usual lavish, ostentatious display of stolen wealth as they do at coronations.)
@Charm I hope that Harry goes for the Queen’s funeral — the same way he did with Philip’s: get there, attend the funeral, then turn around and head right back home — and that that’s it. And that neither one of them will return to the UK again after that. Idk how likely this is, but I hope for both Harry’s and Meghan’s sake that this is how they handle it. Do the bare minimum.
If Harry goes, Meghan should go with him. Meghan should travel with Harry every time he goes to that disgusting island. I hate the idea of him going to that island alone without his wife, that’s what they want.
What’s worse is the bots wanting Harry to “take the children” to see the Queen and “leave Meghan home.” Harry should not go unless his wife goes with him.
I think if Harry goes alone to the funeral Mutton With Buttons will be all over him. Hope M&H attend together and leave the UK later that same day.
I would love to hear that H & M had sneaked into Britain with the kids, visited the Queen so she could meet Lilibet, and then slipped back out without the British Press ever knowing they were there – until after the fact. They would be SO enraged, it would be priceless!
Absolutely, Diana would be delighted and relieved that her son has found true love and happiness, and has come into his own as a man. He is living the life she would have created for herself had she lived. He is walking in her footsteps.
Despite the Sussexes disappearing for long stretches the press continues to write about them. This creates the false impression M & H are more visible so when they actually do appear again the press can claim “ THEY’RE ALWAYS SEEKING ATTENTION!”
@Aurora: I still remember when they took that long break after the left in March 2020, the press was saying that Harry and Meghan had become invisible and William and Kate were coming into their own with their Zoom calls. Now, every time Meghan and Harry does something the press complains that they’re invading their own privacy. It just goes to show when the press knowingly lies about Meghan and Harry leaving to the Royal Family for privacy.
The BM will never cover M&H in a reasonable manner. They might as well do what they want.
I love everything about this. Keep shining!
As do I!!! I want nothing more than their lives to be filled with the unlimited happiness and joy that two people could ever have!! They are certainly worthy of our accolades and we are all the better to have them as the selflessly work towards a better life for everyone!! They are certainly very much in love and I see their love growing every day!!! I want nothing but for each and every day for Harry and Meghan to be happy, joyous, complete and utterly overflowing with love!!! Harry and Meghan deserve that and so much more!! I am so happy each and every time we have the privilege to see them!! May their lives together be filled with every day as special as the day before!! May Lili and Archie grow to be just as magnificent as their parents!!
May Harry, Megan, Archie and Lili continue to live each and every day knowing how much they are loved unconditionally. And may we see nothing but all of their greatness shine through!!
Wow! @BothSidesNow
While this was quite the proclamation 🙂 I approve. And I concur.
@BothSidesNow Beautifully put, you’ve conveyed all of my own feelings towards this lovely couple exactly.
They’ve really done a lot this year. They both should feel proud about what they’ve been able achieve and I’m really happy for them that they’ve been able to make a nice and much peaceful life for themselves and their children.
Diana would have been their biggest supporter. She would be so proud of who Harry is- not just having a loving family and wonderful wife. He’s grown up and turned out so well, she’d be so happy.
I truly believe this too. They try to use Diana to berate Harry and claim how disappointed she’d be at the brother’s feud, as if it’s all Harry’s doing….how conveniently they forget that it was Diana vs. the Firm and she was in the process of doing exactly what Harry and Meghan were able to do: escape and make a life for themselves separate from the RF. I am sure she is beaming down on them with pride.
Harry is essentially living Diana’s dream, why would she be disappointed in that? I always side eye people who claim that Diana wouldn’t like the path that Harry is taking, but forgetting that she left the RF.
Yes, indeed, Diana was cut loose from the royal family. I think she’d be very disappointed in the way William is acting now.
^^ Right, exactly. Diana would surely be extremely disappointed in William and his choices. He always had a problematic personality, but losing Diana at the age of 15, and being completely taken over by palace operatives, while Papa Charles was mostly busy with his own life, was probably what helped steer William further into entitled laziness, bullying behavior, and perpetual rage behind-the-scenes. Plus, as we know, Wills was always jealous of Harry.
But no one could have figured that charismatic, yet emotionally troubled Harry would finally find his soul mate in a gorgeous, brilliant, bi-racial, divorced actor/ humanitarian, who helped him come into his own as a strong, centered, courageous man. Like Diana, Meghan marrying into the royal firm has rocked the British monarchy to its core, because once again, the Windsors and the tabloid media chose jealousy and harassment, over genuine acceptance and support.
Diana, most assuredly is proud of Harry, his happiness, and all he has achieved. As Harry told us in the Oprah interview, Diana is watching over them and their children. The Sussexes are Diana’s living legacy.
I agree. Diana would have loved this for Harry – to have broken free of the toxicity, the generational trauma, to have chosen his wife over the privileges of being royal – I think she would have been so proud.
I do think she would have been sad that it came to this – that charles refused to support his son and daughter in law, that William turned on Harry like he did, that life in the Firm was so hard for Meghan she contemplated suicide – like I think she would have wished that Harry could have been happy without the nasty ugly stuff first, you know? but i think she would see where he is now and be really happy for him.
@ Becks1, I agree!! As much as I hate to bring Diana into the conversation, I do agree that she would be extremely proud of not only Harry, but of Megan as well. She would have showered Meghan with so much love and compassion!! Diana would have protected both of them every single day. Diana would have publicly outed the actions of the rota rats, the Firm, Baldingham and more importantly Charles for being a pr!ck with regards to how he has treated Harry and Meghan. Diana would have taken Baldingham out to the back of the shed, and would have been appalled and disgusted by his actions and those of his Stepford wife. As well as cut the head off of the snake that the entire Ma Meddlton clan is.
Now just because I don’t like to talk about bringing Diana into the fold doesn’t mean I haven’t played the entire scenario out in my head! 😊
Harry and Meghan – ride or die.
Me too and by the way I am a fellow Aquarius 😄
So the definitive answer to TOB’s question is a resounding ‘No, Harry did not rush things with that woman.’.
H&M are Relationship Goals. You can just tell that they genuinely adore each other, and there’s a mutual respect there that you really don’t see in certain other royal marriages. And I’ll bet that Archie and Lili are absolutely spoiled — but in a good way! In the sense that there’s a lot of love and affection in the family, and their parents make sure that the kids know that they are unconditionally cherished. There will be no scapegoating here.
Kaiser, I agree with everything you said. I am SO incredibly proud of these two. I can’t wait wait to see what next year brings.
Nobody has to plant stories that they are a loving couple because you just cannot fake their love and devotion. But sure, Bill brings Cathy a G&T after the kids go to bed.
I snorted when I saw that headline. A truly pathetic lie from Bill.
Maybe once or twice after George. I suspect she gets her own now.
Also, I really want Daniel Martin to do my make-up. Just saying.
Their mutual love, respect and happiness glows after an awful period of being trapped , thrown to the tabs by the very folk supposedly there to protect their interests. Now they are free in US to be themselves and not have staff brief against them or jealous relations hinder their projects. Everybody should be entitled to lead their best lives and cut out toxic people and situations. They are a great advert for independence and not getting stuck in hidebound traditions just because we have always done things this way. They are happy and it is W&K who looked trapped and constipated!
I wish Harry, Meghan, Archie and lili a lifetime of happiness and joy with each other. I hope they keep on getting richer because yeah I am petty that way. After what their families with the exception of Mama Doria put them through, no one is more deserving of happiness. Till the end of time may their love for each other continue to grow.
I disagree! I know many had issues with the way the dress fit, but I think she took an intentional risk and owned it–and in my opinion she looked positively beautiful. I would say the same about her wedding dress. Many were critical of her wedding look, and yet it has already become iconic for it’s simple, elegant beauty. Meghan is not afraid to take risks, she knows her strengths and works them, and she doesn’t copy anyone else’s style. She will continue to inspire so many for the important work she does, including me, but I will always look forward to seeing what she chooses to wear as well!
People Mag is hiding in plain sight!
One article every now and then that gives a smidgeon of positive reporting regarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex does not absolve them of the over the top coverage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge . The constant manipulation of inserting them into articles about the Sussex Family of Montecito has not been unnoticed!
Salty Island Reporting has been so very apparent!
People Mag needs to learn how to report about both couples without the obvious need to tear down one to uplift the other.
Just how deep is their mag involved with the other bitter brother and his cosplaying wife?
Evidently even handed reporting is not one of the values People mag upholds.
People magazine isn’t “reporting “ anything — no one is checking for journalistic integrity in a tabloid .
I don’t think People has ever written anything negative about a royal. If they’re writing more about W&K it’s because they get out more than H&M – not that they do more, just that there are more photo ops.
They’re pretty transparent about basically being a PR outlet for celebs.
Unless one is a super fan of Kate and William, I think the over the top praise will get on people’s nerves. I stopped buying People because of all this.
You guys, our Harry has a job, in a few weeks he’ll receive his first w-2. He can choose what he wants to be involved in and what he doesn’t, he doesn’t have to grovel to anyone for funds. He has a loving wife, children who adores him. His world is so much bigger than what he could have imagined, he must pinch himself every morning when he wakes up.
I’m so relieved that they’re out of danger.
There was a time after the Oceana tour that the first thing I would do when I woke up was to google Meghan Markle to make sure she was okay. I was so stressed by something that was not happening to me and wondered how she can possibly survive it.
Hopefully in 2022 the BRF can move on with their lives and leave these two alone. I know it’s a lot to ask for, but hopping for the best in 2022.
@Athena I wish you were right, and RF will leave H&M alone, but…
Just two words: Harry’s Memoir.
I am proud of them also, Kaiser.
Harry and Meghan took a significant step out on faith. If you’ve never made a change in your life, not sure of the outcome, it’s terrifying. But you must believe you are doing the right thing and will overcome the obstacles because there will be challenges. You hold steadfast to your belief; prayer helps, and after the dark, the sun rises. Most people do this alone; Harry and Meghan had each other and Archie as a focal point. Both made massive sacrifices. She gave up her freedom to marry him, and he gave up his privileges to keep her in his life. That Oprah interview was the exhale. He communicated his pain and disappointment to his family, country, and world. She needed to share that she never expected the betrayal.
There is an unassailable tangible- Peace of mind – the ever present joy even if one is not happy.
This is non-negotiable in a healthy relationship, not sold in stores,etc
They stumbled onto this fact, as they dealt with attacks and pursued the need for peace of mind to forge an ongoing healthy relationship.
Good on them, it reflexes their maturity, a good basis for a irreplaceable relationship.
Harry is a great guy. And Meghan is wonderful.
Harry and Meghan demonstrate what it is to live with respect for themselves as a couple and family. They do not compromise. They are a great example of how to maintain healthy boundaries from others’ BS.
Their affection for each other is beautiful to witness. </3 Bless them.