Priyanka Chopra weighs in on Meghan Markle backlash

The Hollywood star has weighed in on the negative publicity surrounding the Duchess of Sussex — and revealed what she’s really like.

Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has publicly defended Meghan Markle following months of negative headlines targeting the new royal.

Chopra, who is close with the Duchess of Sussex and attended her wedding to Prince Harry last year, spoke about the “racism” her friend has faced since stepping into the spotlight as a member of the British royal family.

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Abigail Spencer and Priyanka Chopra outside St George’s Chapel for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding last year. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Asked by the UK’s The Times about why Meghan seems to be a lightning rod for negative attention, the 36-year-old Quantico star declared it was “100 per cent” as a result of her African-American background.

“Of course it has to do with racism, it’s an obvious reason,” Chopra said, describing the way the British press picks apart her every move as “unfortunate”.

“But if there’s anyone who can handle it, it’s her,” she added.

The actress also insisted Meghan hasn’t changed at all since becoming a royal.

“The beauty of Meg is that she’s been herself through all of this. A lot of people got to know her after everything (once she started dating Harry), but I knew her before and she’s the same chick,” Chopra said.

“Now that she’s got a real platform, she talks about the same things she always did.

“We spent hours speaking about the difference that influence and dialogue can make to the world before this whole thing happened, so what you see now is authentically her. She’s always been the girl wanting to move the needle.”

A photo of the pair from Meghan’s now-deleted Instagram account.

Chopra also revealed how the pair first bonded while they were both filming in Canada prior to Meghan starting a relationship with Prince Harry.

“We just connected on how we see the world and as girls,” she explained.

“Meghan is such a progressive, modern girl. She’s what the world is today — a self-made woman who looks like each one of us. I mean, she’s stunning, but she is so completely herself.”

Meanwhile, despite being in London with husband Nick Jonas last week, Chopra has denied reports she stopped by Frogmore Cottage to meet Meghan and Harry’s three-week-old son, Archie, and gave him a gift from Tiffany & Co.

“While these are great gift ideas … this story is untrue, and I was actually in town for work,” Priyanka tweeted.

Regardless, Archie hasn’t been short on visitors since his birth.

There have been multiple reports Meghan’s BFF Jessica Mulroney and her daughter Ivy, 5, were among the first to drop in on the new baby during a whirlwind visit to the UK.

Tennis champion Serena Williams — along with husband Alexis Ohanian and daughter Olympia, 1 — is also understood to have visited Meghan and Archie last week before heading to the French Open tournament.

Williams even took to Instagram to share a photo in what appeared to be a regal stateroom in Windsor, showing off items from her activewear label.