Meghan Markle is continuing her recent publicity blitz as she made an appearance at a book event in support of her pal and fellow author, Courtney Adamo, on Thursday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, partook in an intimate sit-down at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, California, which is located just minutes away from the $29 million Montecito mansion she shares with Prince Harry, 41.
During the discussion, Markle made rare remarks about her and Harry’s four-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet Diana, while sharing insight on their family’s home life.
The royal couple have close ties to Godmothers, which was co-founded by their close friends, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson, and backed by billionaire Oprah Winfrey.
Prince Harry famously helped the co-founders tap the bookstore’s unique name as he once referred to literary agent Walsh, makeup mogul Jackson and Winfrey as his ‘fairy godmothers.’
A photo of the pair taken at Godmothers’ 2024 grand opening is prominently displayed inside the bookstore, along with Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, and Markle’s 2021 children’s book, The Bench, in the ‘local authors’ section.
Markle was invited by Adamo, who co-founded the popular UK parenting blog Babyccino Kid, to Thursday’s event to discuss her new family-focused interior design book, The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas for a Home Filled with Joy.
Meghan Markle is continuing her recent publicity blitz as she made an appearance at a book event in support of her pal and fellow author, Courtney Adamo, on Thursday
The Duchess of Sussex partook in an intimate sit-down at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, California, which is located near her and Prince Harry’s Montecito home
Markle’s fans completely sold-out the in-store event, which was also streamed online on Godmothers’ official Substack.
Markle was introduced to the Godmothers audience as ‘one of the most powerful women in the world’ before a long list of her accomplishments was read aloud.
Soon after, she made her way to the stage with ‘longtime friend’ Adamo and Godmothers co-founder Jackson, who served as moderator.
Markle looked sensational with her toned arms on full display in a chic brown tank top, which she styled with matching slacks. Her brunette hair was slicked back in a bun and she opted for minimal makeup.
‘We’ve been friends since college just so you know,’ Markle eagerly told the crowd in reference to her decades-long friendship with Adamo.
Markle added that she and Adamo met ‘when [they] were 17’ and shared how their upbringings differed.
‘She grew up on a tulip farm. I did not grow up on a tulip farm,’ said Markle, who made reference to ‘growing up in a small duplex’ in Los Angeles soon after.
‘I learned so many things from Courtney,’ Markle stressed.
She then recalled a time when she and Adamo, who were in the same sorority at Northwestern University, had planned to make a trip from their home in California back to school in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001.
‘We were meant to fly [to Chicago] but we here’s why we didn’t: because 9/11 happened on that same day,’ she shared with the stunned audience.
‘So the two of us ended up driving 30 hours over three days. 10 hours a day. From Los Angeles to Chicago together at one of the most fragile, tender times in this country.’
Markle said the moment made her realize the importance of ‘community’ and ‘what people need in moments when you are wanting to feel safe.
‘And there’s no safer place that you feel than in your home.’
Markle then unexpectedly brought up her and Prince Harry’s daughter Lilibet during the conversation.
Markle was invited by Adamo (right), who co-founded the popular UK parenting blog Babyccino Kid, to Thursday’s event to discuss her new family-focused interior design book
During the discussion, Markle made rare remarks about her and Harry’s four-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet Diana while sharing insight on their family’s home life
The couple, who wed in 2018, are also parents to six-year-old son
The couple, who welcomed Lilibet in 2021, are also parents to their son, Prince Archie Harrison, six.
Lilibet came up during Markle’s explanation about ‘rose and thorn,’ which is a conversation tool that encourages people to share one good thing and one bad thing about their day.
Markle said the technique comes in handy when kids reach a certain age where they often only give ‘yes and no answers.’
‘Our daughter she’s four and she’s a very strong personality and she’s incredible,’ Markle said.
‘And now she’s in this moment where I say, “What’s your rose and your thorn?” And she goes, ‘My day was just a blast.” The anecdote earned a laugh from the audience.
Markle added that ‘rose and thorn’ is just one of many ‘rituals’ that she’s incorporated into her and Harry’s family.
She revealed that her, Harry and the kids have a beloved blanket that they refer to as the ‘healing blanket,’ which was a gift from Godmothers co-founder Jackson.
Whenever one of them isn’t feeling well, they always reach for the ‘healing blanket.’
When discussing travel ‘non-negotiables’ with Adamo and Jackson, Markle revealed that she wakes up her house with music ever morning.
‘First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is turn the music on in the house,’ she shared.
Because of this, Markle travels with a portable speaker. She also always has to have a candle on hand.
‘I always travel with a candle. I am so conscious and sensitive to fragrance and I associate that with home.’
Later in the conversation, the star admitted that she sometimes puts ‘pressure’ on herself to deliver for her guests when she throws dinner parties at her and Harry’s $29 million mansion.
Lilibet came up during Markle’s explanation about ‘rose and thorn,’ which is a conversation tool that encourages people to share one good thing and one bad thing about their day
‘Our daughter she’s four and she’s a strong personality and she’s incredible,’ Markle said; seen with her daughter on October 13
However, she encouraged viewers to ‘focus on the home’ and the experience of being with loved ones rather than stressing over tiny details or strict itineraries.
To help remove the ‘pressure,’ Markle prepares her kitchen in a way that allows her guests to ‘serve themselves,’ which she ‘loves.’
After their chat, Markle put on her hostess hat and whisked lucky attendees to the bookstore’ patio, where she served up glasses of ‘beautifully crafted’ Sauvignon Blanc from her wine line, As Ever.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last made a publicized appearance at Godmothers’ in September 2024 for its star-studded grand opening.
Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, her wife Portia de Rossi were among just some of the A-list attendees.
Godmothers, which co-founders Walsh and Jackson have said is Montecito’s answer to a town square, is set in a stately white barn and located next to a beach cafe.
Montecito, the upmarket town where Harry and Meghan have made a home since 2020, is somewhat of a community for the rich and very famous.
The inside of the bookstore is a take on Californian chic, albeit designed by Lewisham-born TV designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
There are large portraits of historic women, including Maya Angelou and Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as a large fireplace, sheepskin armchair and a large stage.
During the chat, Meghan also revealed that she plays music in her and Harry’s house ‘first thing’ in the morning; the couple seen on October 9
The royal couple have close ties to Godmothers (pictured), which was co-founded by their close friends, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Victoria Jackson, and backed by Oprah Winfrey
The second floor is home to a lounge where members who pay $200-a-month can relax.
At last year’s opening event, Jackson described the Godmothers community as ‘somebody who roots for you, who supports you, who advocates for you. It’s somebody who is found family.’
And both Markle and her husband appeared right at home at the opening event as they posed for photos with their founder pals and cheered them on from the sidelines.
Jackson, who has been close to the royal couple since their arrival in California in 2020, said at the time that she wanted Godmothers to be a ‘safe space’ for Meghan and Harry.
‘Seeing them be able to come here and be in a safe space… it’s what we want it to be.’
