Prince Harry, Meghan Markle step out on red carpet
The Duchess of Sussex has made more revelations about her past in her controversial podcast as fans go wild on her European tour.
Royals
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Meghan Markle has revealed her frustration at being told she was “lucky” Prince Harry had chosen her when they became engaged, in her third Spotify podcast.
The Duchess of Sussex branded the comments stereotyped, and said Prince Harry had “countered the narrative” by saying: ‘They’ve got it all wrong. I’m the lucky one because you chose me.’
In her latest Archetypes podcast, which featured comedian Mindy Kaling, Meghan said: “When I started dating my husband, we became engaged. Everyone was just like, ‘Oh my god, you’re so lucky, he chose you’.
“At a certain point, after you hear it a million times over, you’re like, ‘well, I chose him, too’. But, thankfully, I have a partner who was countering that narrative for me and going ‘they’ve got it all wrong, I’m the lucky one because you chose me’.
“But it is gendered and it’s archetyped and stereotyped that you’re so lucky, and it just feeds into this idea that you’re waiting for someone to tell you that you’re good enough, as opposed to knowing that you’re good enough on your own.’
During the podcast, Markle told how she felt like an “ugly duckling” during her childhood,
The Duchess of Sussex said she had “massive frizzy, curly hair and a huge gap in my teeth” and struggled to fit in with her peers.
She told Kaling she felt like a loner at school and didn’t have anyone sit with at lunchtime so spent her time getting involved in clubs.
It comes as the Sussexes were given a royal welcome — complete with walkabouts, red carpet and cheering fans — at the Invictus Games countdown in Germany.
Markle and Prince Harry beamed broadly as flashbulbs popped on the red carpet in Dusseldorf.
Smiling at baying fans, Markle appeared the epitome of decorum and grace as she walked hand-in-hand with a doting Prince Harry on the second day of their London-European tour.
Prince Harry was greeted by cheering fans who chanted “Harry, Harry, Harry”, in stark contrast to Monday at the One Young World summit in Manchester when the couple were met by a cacophony of boos from the crowd outside.
Addressing a cheerful crowd onstage in German on, Prince Harry said: “We, Meghan and I, are very happy to be here today.”
Reverting to English, he continued, “Far too often service members and veterans pay a significant price for our collective security in wounds, visible and invisible.
“And also with their lives. The bravery, strength and selflessness exhibited by them and their families is extraordinary.”
The Sussexes petted military mascot Loki at the games, the Paralympic-style event for servicemen and women founded by the Prince before unveiling the game’s motto next year, A Home For Respect.
The trip bore the hallmarks of a right royal visit with a phalanx of German police protection officers and crowds enthusiastically waving the British flag, even though the Californian couple are now categorised as private citizens.
The city hosts the sports event for disabled military veterans next September.
On Thursday they will attend the WellChild Awards, which toasts the courage of young people from across the UK who have battled serious illness or disability. In several hours they will be given a grand welcome worthy of global dignitaries at a reception at the town hall.
Decorative last minute flowers were being hurriedly hung around the entrance to the town hall.
The couple are trumpeting the countdown to the Invictus Games for which Prince Harry is patron, and will both address the audience before signing the Golden Book for visiting dignitaries before taking a scenic ride on the £13m MS Rhein Galaxie along the Rhine.
Mingling with tourists they will stop off in Duisburg and Merkur-Spiel sports stadium where the games will be held.
‘NICE TO BE BACK’: MEGHAN DELIVERS UK SPEECH
It was one of the Duchess of Sussex’s finest performances.
Former Suits star Meghan Markle, who quit the UK as a working royal for a life in California with Prince Harry, declared, “It’s very nice to be back in the UK” in her first public speech in the country in more than two years.
Addressing a rapt 2000-strong audience at the opening ceremony of the One Young World charity summit in Manchester as a wincing Prince Harry looked on, she cooed: “It was one of those pinch me moments … I was first invited to be a counsellor at One Young World in 2014.
“I was probably a lot like each of you, young, ambitious, advocating for the things I deeply and profoundly believed in and also looking around wondering how on earth did I get here?
“There I was, the girl from Suits surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers, and activists that I had such a deep and long standing respect and admiration for and I was invited to pull up a seat at the table.
“I joined One Young World in London in 2019. And by that point … my life had changed rather significantly.
“I was now married and I was now a mum.
“I am thrilled that my husband is able to join me here this time to see and witness first-hand my respect for this organisation.
“It was an integral part of my life for so many years before I met him. So to meet again here, on UK soil, with him by my side makes it all feel full circle,” she said.
The media-hungry pair, on a short UK and European tour, arrived at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall by train flanked by security guards and drawing double takes from unsuspecting passengers on the platform at London’s Euston Station.
The Duchess of Sussex, 41, shares the bond of humanitarian work the charity espouses in its aim to empower and develop young people to build a fair and sustainable future.
Its annual summit drew leaders and global dignitaries from 195 countries including political activist Sir Bob Geldof, former Irish President Mary Robinson.
Previously former US president Bill Clinton and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu have attended.
‘DESPERATE’: EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON TOUR
The Sussexes’ whistlestop tour of the UK and Dusseldorf has been slammed as a desperate attempt at rebranding themselves and will fail unless they stop launching attacks on the royal family, royal insiders have said.
“The Royal family do not want war and the Queen is said to be deeply upset by Meghan and Harry’s constant jibes, especially since Meghan’s interview in The Cut – no one knows whether they should be taking cover, responding, or trying to forgive them,” said royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams.
“They will say their tour of the UK and Dusseldorf is a continuation of their philanthropic efforts but – it is no coincidence that Meghan has restarted her Instagram and launched Spotify podcasts,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“If they are constantly going to make ridiculous comments like comparing their marriage to Nelson Mandela’s, their bid to regain favour with the British public will fail.”
The couple flew into the UK on Saturday and went straight to the cottage in Windsor after renewing their lease in April.
Although the cottage is a short stroll from Adelaide Cottage, where William and Catherine, both 40, and the children moved in at the weekend, the families did not meet.
On Tuesday the couple has planned a trip to Dusseldorf for the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games event and will attend the WellChild awards on Thursday.
The Duchess launched another attack at the Royal family last week in an interview with the American magazine The Cut, when she hinted she and Harry were forced into exile “by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s whistlestop tour of the UK and Dusseldorf is a desperate attempt at rebranding themselves and will fail unless they stop attacking the royal family, royal insiders say.
“The royal family do not want war and the Queen is said to be deeply upset by Meghan and Harry’s constant jibes, especially since Meghan’s interview in The Cut – no one knows whether they should be taking cover, responding, or trying to forgive them,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said.
“The Californian couple will say their tour of the UK and Dusseldorf is a continuation of their philanthropic efforts but this is really their attempt at rebranding themselves, particularly by focusing on charity work – it is no coincidence that Meghan has restarted her Instagram and launched Spotify podcasts, this is clearly the look of the couple desperate to regain popularity.
“If they are constantly going to make ridiculous comments like comparing their marriage to Nelson Mandela’s, their bid to regain favour with the British public will fail,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“While they are in Britain this week they are living within walking distance of the Cambridges at Frogmore Cottage, but there is no talk of the brothers or sister-in-laws meeting.
“Meghan wants to control the narrative through her truth but what she says is unpredictable and seen as threatening.
“The sooner they realise the work they get is because they are royals the better.
“It is their ambition to relaunch their brand post the pandemic.”
According to sources the couple are “always welcome” to stay with Prince Charles but they declined.
“The Prince of Wales reiterated his invitation for Harry and Meghan, and the whole family if they wished, to come and stay with him this summer while he is at his home on the Balmoral estate,” The Mirror reports, citing a royal source.
“He thought it might be a good opportunity for everyone to take stock and relax, but the invitation was declined.”
The Sussexes will not see the rest of the royal family on their trip, with the Queen remaining at Balmoral to swear in the new prime minister from the Scottish castle on Tuesday.
A maximum security operation is in place outside Bridgewater Hall for their protection but police in Manchester confirmed they were not be providing officers.
Instead the couple’s own security team and event organisers are protecting them to avoid the couple hearing any boos and jibes by the public, as was the case at the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in June.
Prince Harry is suing the Home Office over the decision to remove his tax paid official armed police bodyguards, saying it is “unfair” and “illegal”.
Markle launched another attack at the royal family last week in an interview with New York magazine The Cut, when she hinted she and Prince Harry were forced into exile “by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy,” she said.
She also claimed three years ago a cast member of The Lion King compared her wedding to the day former South African president Nelson Mandela was released from prison, recalling that he said, “I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison.”
South African cast member Dr John Kani said he has never met the Duchess.
The Sussexes are also working on a historical documentary to tell their last story in an unspecified deal with Netflix.
A spokeswoman for the Sussexes did not return calls for comment.
More Coverage
Originally published as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle step out on red carpet
Join the conversation
What Kate’s big transformation reveals
After almost a year since her cancer diagnosis, Princess Catherine’s Christmas appearance signals a big change in fortune for the year ahead, writes Zoe Smith.
Read more
Royal fan reveals Kate’s candid remark
A royal fan has shared details of her personal chat with the Princess of Wales as the royal family made their way into their annual Christmas church service.
Read more