Meghan Markle appears to take swipe at ‘Duchess Difficult’ label in Archetypes podcast

In her latest podcast, Meghan Markle appears to take a swipe at being dubbed “Duchess Difficult” and stereotypes around “women of colour”.

Meghan Markle appears to have addressed the ‘Duchess Difficult’ label assigned to her by royal staff members, saying she simply “sets boundaries”.

In a new episode of her Archetypes podcast, called Up-ending the “Angry Black Woman” myth, Markle spoke to actress Issa Rae and the comedian Ziwe Fumudoh to explore the stereotypes around “women of colour”.

The Duchess of Sussex has addressed the Duchess Difficult label. Picture: AFP

Issa shared that she’s taken advice from other black women in the entertainment industry to not be afraid of being called a b****, and she took a friend calling her “particular” as a compliment.

“To me, that means I have a sense of what I want,” the Insecure star, 37, said.

“I’m particular,” Markle, 41, responded.

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“I think a high tide raises all ships — we’re all going to succeed, so let’s make sure it’s really great because it’s a shared success for everybody.

“But I also know that I will find myself cowering and tiptoeing into a room — I don’t know if you ever do that, the thing that I find the most embarrassing — when you’re saying a sentence and the intonation goes up like it’s a question.

“And you’re like, ‘Oh my God, stop!’ Stop whispering and tiptoeing around and say what it is you need.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are living in California. Picture: AFP

“You’re allowed to set a boundary, you’re allowed to be clear. It does not make you demanding, it does not make you difficult. It makes you clear.”

She also claimed she was “upending the angry black women myth”.

The Duchess of Sussex reportedly earned the “Duchess Difficult” nickname in 2018 following rumours about her “dictatorial” behaviour and 5am emails – which led to an aide quitting.

She later faced bullying claims from Kensington Palace workers before she and Prince Harry left the royal family, with several staff members saying they were “terrified” of her.

Some alleged that the Duchess, 41, reduced them to tears by berating them and bombarding them with phone calls late at night.

Markle has denied all claims of bullying.

Originally published as Meghan Markle appears to take swipe at ‘Duchess Difficult’ label in Archetypes podcast